CIHM 
Microfiche 
Series 
(Monographs) 


ICMH 

Collection  de 
microfiches 
(monographies) 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  ,'  Institut  canadien  de  mtcroreproductions  historiques 


(6)1C)QC) 


Tc  .•n:r:-i  and  Bibliographic  Notes  /  Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  ln<;'ii'j  '■■''■  a..'  ■np'i°d  to  obtain  the  best  original 
copy  :.'■■'  ;u-  -  '• .  \'~g.  Features  of  this  copy  which 
may  he  L.ibiiogra^.;.  ^'  /  unique,  which  may  alter  any  of 
the  ini£.yes  i::  tne  reproduction,  or  which  may 
significantly  change  the  usual  method  of  filming  are 
checked  below. 


n 


□ 
□ 


Coloured  covers  / 
Couverture  de  couleur 


j      j    Covers  damaged  / 

I 1    Couverture  endommagee 

□    Covers  restored  and/or  laminated  / 
Couverture  restauree  et/ou  peliiculee 

I    Cover  title  missing  /  Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

I I    Coloured  maps  /  Cartes  g^ographiques  en  couleur 

□    Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)  / 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations  / 


□ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material  / 
Relie  avec  d'autres  documents 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  edition  disponible 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion  along 
interior  margin  /  La  reliure  serree  peut  causer  de 
I'ombre  ou  de  la  distorsion  le  long  de  la  marge 
interieure. 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restorations  may  appear 
within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these  have  been 
omitted  from  filming  /  II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages 
blanches  ajoutees  lors  d'une  restauration 
apparaissent  dans  le  texte,  mais,  lorsque  cela  etait 
possible,  ces  pages  n'ont  pas  ete  filmees. 

Additional  comments  /  Various  payings. 

Commentaires  supplementaires: 


L'Institut  a  microfilme  le  meilleur  exemplaire  qu'il  lui  a 
ete  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details  de  cet  exem- 
plaire qui  sont  peut-etre  uniques  du  point  de  vue  bibli- 
ographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier  une  image  reproduite, 
ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une  modification  dans  la  metho- 
de  normale  de  filmage  sont  indiques  ci-dessous. 

Coloured  pages  /  Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged  /  Pages  endommag^es 


□ 
□ 

I      I   Quality  of  print  varies  / 


D 
D 


D 


Pages  restored  and/or  laminated  / 
Pages  restaurees  et/ou  pelliculees 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed  / 
Pages  decolorees,  tachetees  ou  piquees 

Pages  detached  /  Pages  detachees 

Showthrough  /  Transparence 


Quality  inegale  de  i'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material  / 
Comprend  du  matenel  supplementaire 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata  slips, 
tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to  ensure  the  best 
possible  image  /  Les  pages  totalement  ou 
partiellement  obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une 
pelure,  etc.,  ont  ete  filmees  a  nouveau  de  fafon  a 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 

Opposing  pages  with  varying  colouration  or 
discolourations  are  filmed  twice  to  ensure  the  best 
possible  image  /  Les  pages  s'opposant  ayant  des 
colorations  variables  ou  des  decolorations  sont 
filmees  deux  fois  afin  d'obtenir  la  meilleure  image 
possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below  / 

Ce  document  est  fllme  au  taux  de  reduction  indique  ci-dessous. 


10. 

1i?X 

4  n.. 

:  ex 

22x 

25x 

30x 

12x 


16x 


20x 


24x 


28x 


32x 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Stduf ter  I ibrary 
Queen's  University 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


L'exemplaire  filmA  fut  reproduit  grace  i  la 
gAnArositA  de: 

Stauffer  Library 
Queen's  University 

Les  images  suivantes  ont  AtA  reprodures  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin.  compta  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nattetA  de  l'exemplaire  film^.  et  en 
conformity  avec  las  conditions  du  contrat  da 
filmaga. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate   All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
fir»t  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exer**  plaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  "^t  imprim^e  sont  filmis  en  commencant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniAre  page  qui  comporta  une  empremte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplairas 
originaux  sont  filmAs  en  commencant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empremte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  at  en  terminant  par 
la  derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinta. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microf'cho 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^  (meaning    'CON- 
TINUED "I,  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning    "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc..  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entiraly  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  appara?tra  sur  la 
derniAre  image  de  chaque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  ^^  signifie   "A  SUIVRE  ',  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN '. 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc..  peuvent  etre 
filmAs  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diff^rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  etre 
reproduit  en  un  saul  clich6,  il  est  film6  ^  partir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite 
et  de  haut  en  bas.  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1  2  3 

4  5  6 


MICROCOPY    RESOLUTION    TEST    CHART 

ANSI  and  ISO  IFST  CHART  No    2 


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1.25 


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—  ^7161    ?88  -  ^989  -  Fa» 


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SELECTED   POEMS   OF 

rEllCY    BYSSIIE   SHELLEY 

KDITKU   WITH    IN  lllODL  CTION 
AND   NUTES 

15V 

GEORGE   HERBERT  CLARKE,  M.A. 

I'rojeasor  of  Kugluh  in  the  VniversHy  oj  the  South 


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HOUr.HTOX  MIFFLIN  COMPANY 

BOSTtJN      NEW  YOUK      CHICAGO      SAN  FUANCISCO 


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itself  tattsltt  ."  ""■■1":-'"'  ■,.,;,,,  „,,,,aratns.  Is 
vvunW   liU>'-  ''''^V'"    '".'".  ,.,     ,,  i,  Ivranso  a  V"«'"- 

H  ,,..aus,.  w. -|- 2,;;:;;,,  ,,„(,,,  u  yi.i.i-t--""- 

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11,..  l.ilV  ..f  Mi'll.y 


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lllf.l.ltM.ll.MllV 


Uii 
Ixix 


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S\.\S/  \' 


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l^U 


1  o  ('nl.l  Hll'i.l-. 


'I'n   \Vi)|il>tW<'i:Tn  •  •  •  ' 

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S.v.i-'roTMK  Mkn  okKnolanh   .        .       • 
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Aki  Tin  SA 

c    'I'm-  ('i.i)Li) 

To   A   MiYl.AUK 

Odk  to  Liiu  kty 

^  The  SKNsiTiVK  1'i.ant    .... 

DiudK  KQii  Tin.  Vi.au 

To  Ni(iHT 

.SOMNKT  TO    KyKhN 

Links  i"Fak.      \i!  away.  0  ye'") 

To  Emilia  Viviam 

To (■■MlSir,    WUKN    80FT  VOICES   die") 

To (■  On      "ohd  is  too  get  n  i-KOEANEn")  . 

To (-When  passion's  tuanie  is  oveui'ast" 

Bridal  Sono 

Ml'TATilLlTY 

Sonnet— PoEiTicAi.  GuEATNEss       .        .        .        . 

To-MouKO\v 

A  Lament  ("  O  Woui.n!  O  Life  !  O  Time  !  ") 
A  Lament  ("Swiftku  fau  than  semmek's  elk; 

^  Aih)Nais 

■^  A  Hikoe  ("  Knrc.H  wind,  that  moanest  i.orn'' 

F-I'ITAPH 

Lines  ("When  the  i.ami-  is  shattehed") 
j.;,,>,Tj  — From  "Chahees  the  Fihst"      . 
To  Jane  — The  Invitation  .... 

To  Jane  — The  Recoi.eection 

"With  a  Oiitau,  To  Jane 

Notes 


ht") 

)  . 


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225 
220 


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\i 


FIELD   PLACE 


INTRODUCTION 


TIIK    LIFK   OF    SHELLEY 

P:vkry  life  is  a  symbol  as  well  as  a  history,  —  a  symbol, 
1„m1ui))s  i.  were  truer  to  say.  because  it  is  a  history.  Tlie  lite 
of  Slielley  as  a  man,  exceptional  as  it  appears,  is  at  one  witli 
tlie  ironius  of  Shelley  as  a  poet,  —  it  was  impul>ive;  i^enor- 
ously  ardent ;  tilled  witli  tlie  scorn  of  scorn,  tl..-  h.ve  of  love  ; 
ea^'er  and  anxi.ms  to  establish  universal  justice,  freedom, 
andhap])iness;  but  pursuing  too  characteristically  the  d.- 
humanized  method  of  importing  goodness  into  men  rather 
than  that  of  winning  men  into  goodness.  The  curse  of  his 
life  moved  from  the  tense  yet  dark  mood  of  Paracelsus, 
exultant  in  denial  and  challenge,  to  the  high  affirmations  o! 

Aprile,  — 

»i  _         .         tlie  over-radiant  atar  too  mad 

To  drinlt  tlie  Ufe-spriiiss." 
Had  he  lived,  it  is  hardly  possible  that  he  would  have  failed 
to  become  at  last 

«  ^         .         .         .         a  third 

And  butter-tempered  spirit,  warned  by  both." 

On  the  fourth  day  ..f  August,  179L>,  their  first  child  was 
born  to  Timothy  and  Elizabeth  Shelley,  at  Field  Place,  near 
Horsham.  Sussex.  He  was  called  Percy,  because  that  was 
a  favourite  name  in  the  Shelley  family,  ancient  m  Sussex  ; 
an.l  Hysshe,  because  that  was  the  name  of  his  paternal 
gran.lfather.  a  handsome,  wealthy,  and  positive  old  gentle- 
man, eventuallv  made  a  baronet,  who  had  been  twu-e 
marrie.l,  fust  to  Miss  Mary  Catherine  Michell.  a  Sussex 
heiress,  who  ilied  after  eight  years  of  union,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-six;    and    again    to    Miss    Elizabeth    Jane    Sidney, 


III 


tf 


II 

',»    hi. 


ilt- 


P,,,,,.u.i,..n-"^;;  ;;*;';;;';,:;: ;,,,,: uu„ 

,.„■  iM.|>.-t.i..ns  >"■'■>■  ;  ,    ,,i,  „,„  •n„«.Ui,v...uo 

r;:::j;;;:'^';;;::;:::--^--''"' -' 

faiiiily.  ,  ^  En  "-li  slim  an  of 

Ti,n...l>y  S!„.l!,-y  «»  a  «"";'■'";■'    ",'■'   „,.l„,i,,„,l  i„ 

ll,„  ,1m,.,,  tl.a.   "   »--   >"■"'"■'""'  lc.ll,.«s   ,...rl.„;« 

.,,.n,e..s,„-,,..i,-.u:,i....,."n,,,.y  .-i.-^  >       ^^^ 
„,.„.,.  „„„..  ,.t  i,  ..■..."  1,-  ;     "    ■         ,,,„^.,,,  ,,„„ 

.,,..,,„,  y.,..,„K.,  .,(  l-..ri,^,--"  ■   "    •"  ',,'    ,H  ..  .  Willi,,.' 

*-i-.-i-i-s-. Y":::t:::^\^^''-^-^'^-^- 

uuwne.l    Ml-    l-.....it'ti  '  .        ^  ^,^1   ,n,u-iuus  wonKin. 

.on.evvl.at   unfcnnnme  y.t  '^^^'^  "^     7_\^^.^  ^        ,  Pev.y 
Shel.ec:unetlKMno,herois.ven.Onliu.uJ-o  .^ 

ti-^'>'^^-^^''-''*;'^,^::;r'V  av.ntun,usan<W..ll- 

favouvea  l.votlu-v  was  aaore.     l.>    ^^'l  j,,  ^^^  sorts 

a,.i„,  his  stay  at  hon.e    -  n>l  owel      ,  U-  ^^^  ^^^^ 

jrvouml   for  the   most   uu-mu^    1- ,t.  f„„a.  toojiko 

Wsshetolnsaw.a<-ou.i.uaons        R-^^^^^^ 

other   i,nas,ri..al.ve    ^-^'^^'^^'r' \'^'         I  "^a  .  leaah."  lunt, 
shadowy  situations  in  whuih.  WP^^^^^^ 

o.a,ain.he...niaaeta.a.     uns^    h.       .aU       ^.^^^^ 

;a,.,nt  ah>ne  in  tlx"   moonhi^ht.  saxt 

^'•11''-''^  •''^'■'•^•^r,  t  '  trr  infnn..V   ana    hovhoouhaa 

Alu.,  MX  s...auaea  y.a.s  a   '  ■'"  [  Ka^aras.of 

1    I'v  ^h..  hecamu  a  puiul  of  tin-  VU'\.  ->i>-  '-"" 
passed.  l..\>^t"    "^''^'"^    ,1    I,,        ',M...i„u.'snr.-efainirvcurs 
the  village  ot  Wavnhan.,  uaiu  uj.    .=••     •    - 


IXTIiODi'CTloy 


XI 


he  spent  chieflv  in  study  in,  Latin  and  a.v.  .,.,n,  Ins  st,e^  ,. 
Si.uH.nM.Acaa.nn.I>l..wovtl.n,.arln.M,to.a        lu.     c 

,„„,Hl   lun,.lf   on.,    oi  sunn,    six.y   ,um..1^.   vnU.l   1       •     !>  • 
,,,.„^.,.,,,,..,,  vigorous  ..MS..u,..!.,l,vn...     u n  .s      u.tcs.-i 
I)...a<.K-M.l..l.n..:uunnu..ldu.ad.ai.Uuotnnkn.y     .    .^ 
With  ■^p.-tarles  pnslu.a  l/.ul.  hIm.vc.  In.  .la.k  an.,  i.u^l  >   c.y 
Ws'    WaonnLw.nM.,innda,.Ml.   la..an     -^^^ 
K    ;      1  dips  into  Ids  nudl  ot   S....t-h  snutl  l'>  V''     "';•    V' 
I      \v-u-   and    t.-av    uf   tlu-   ..lass-n.on..  '      Sludlcy  . 

;^rM:pve^ntanin.itatin,lynKU.Ueddevna.o,...^ 

no. n.  and  tlu-v  s..on  f..Mn.l  that  tins  was  t.m-  als,>  ot  h.s  n.an 
Is  advent.  a.n.nlin,ly,,. rovokod_n,u.ln.ss.pe,s..u- 

L  oven,  the  nH.re  readily  that  the  fa,,.n,  systeu.  eove.ed 

t    udeofpettvtvvannies.Th.nu.sMed.nKa^^^ 
h;t,.,.e..o^i>;.lley..ho.as.d..apnpd=a^ 

1         M       I,nn  -.^  -a  strai-r..  and  nnsi.cial  l)euv.>       1  lun.u 
tnt:       :;:i.hi^isvi:ionsandnna,inin.s.he,aveo.dy 

^nvained  attention, o  either  his  .■ho,.hnateso..  ins, a^s 
;        .advaneedsteadnyinleandn,.and.ast,ansevn.d. 

,.„..n.t  for  he  seems  Uk-w.  1"  Lave  l,ee„  m.al     oo».lm„ 

M      '.  .  «.ve  fu,-  .  si„,l..  tri 1  ;  ve.  a.  Kt„„  1..S  s.,„a„.. 

;,      ,.  aiv  h„,,r„ve,l.     Tho,,,!,  l.e  f,.un,l  ..ore     ne..,ls  ..1 

and  pnpds.  and   lu    ua>  (;„,.dall.  the 

dnllv  apathetic   to  the  mere   h..ddv   pain. 

'  f...  .1  n.an  of  solid  worth,  was  seeonded  u.  the 
L:;wr^t.;;i>  ;^..  Ke.te.  powertm  .i,h  hooU  ..d  Urreh 
.Uke     Shelley  entered  the  Fourth  For.a  under  Keate  «  juu. 


m 


•  1    1  r,.-  t  with  :i  Mr.  Ilfxton  as  lils  Uitov    -A 

t;'-;:vil":- ::■;:•":"-^-" 
s;,u::  ::.^i.■•^'i^,. 

;    S  lilV.-t  was  ho  to  the  ex..l...nu.n,.  .^    h-s  h.e 

',,.    1   t..U„..   au.l   so  liercelv  vos.ntful.  n.,t   <.f   physu^al 
,,,„.,    ,„„  .,t  i,.-,,Mi.-..  an.l  the  s,>,nt  ..f  <-vn..t>    tha  the    an  o 
••  Mul  ^!u-llev."  an.l   was  hait.'.l   t.nu-  attt-i 
to  hu  known  a>      -Ma. I  ^i"  n^^-  tniincnt- 

ti„H.  tor  their  an.nsenu.nt  hy  a  rr-'w  ..f  thoni^htU^^s  t.nn.c.t 
rWl.v-lu..l  to  the  lin.it  onus  patience,  says  one.  h. 

11    -tlnsh  like  a  ti.-er-s,  his   cheeks    -row    pale   as 
r:;;;     i:I:     .nt.--Snehhoysashe.li.latt.n...l.w. 

'         l!^tl ,lHew  hut   :>ne   llalli.lay  appear  to   have  IKU 

anin.ine,ivennaerstanain,oflnn.-h.veainn.to     h^ 

.00.1.  aV,.,u't   Kton,  p.nnino-  out  his  y..un,  sonl   in  htB 
and  \M>.'.i«  ,     \i      ■   ,,,„      *>  Up  eertamlv  was  not 

and  starts  of  h.>pe  an.l  en  hnsu.sn  .         »«  -;  ^^^  J..  ^ ,,^.  ,,„ 

l.appy  at  Eton.-  wrote   Ins  tnen.      n  '^y^l^,, 
was  a. lisi)..sitl..n  that  nee.lea  especial  ptiso.iai      i 

:;:Laow^.tc,.  ana  cherish  ana  airect  all  his  no  h.as^^^^ 
ana  the  rennukahU'  tenaerness  ot  h-s  heart     He   had  ,  c 
\  .   1    i.'n'>',\   n.)lhin.^  hut  what  was  hase  an.l 

^  moral  courage,  and   leaie.l   nouun„ 

t-A.o   an.l   low"     From   the  same  source  we  leain  that  Ins 

irwlre'chiia-splaytohin..'-    He  nn.vea  thn.n.h  tl. 

t la  .MuaWnn.  whh  ease,  ana  ch..>e  to  aaa   to  Ins  sclu.ol 

I  ,he  ..utsiae  v..ain,  ..f  >u..h   .aass.cal   autlnn.  as   L  - 

LanaPHny.withlM.:n,Min.   (;onaorcet..,ap.H.    - 

,,,.<, .a.in- his  future  father-iu-h.w-.nlns_/./.^/ 

.        jL::     His  r-i..a..'a    inter..st  in   science  to.    ,n..reaM^ 

,  ,  „   t  ..  f,.w  risks— hntli  phv-^ical  an.l  nia.^iMtiial 

^  :;;r::;i;";:  :...-.i •  -'---v.!;:;;:: 

c,.,.i,,.,.-.  .nni.nal  kinship  with  Shak..spe:uv  s  Ar.M.  .;ieatnre 
of" air" and  lire.    C^erlainly,  the  youn^  Klo.aan  cuuia  i.avc 


/vT/i'o/)rr'77o.v 


XUl 


, , ,.  J-,.,  i.«- ■"'■ ■■''-;•'-;:::■;;:::. 

'"■'■'■'■"";■  ' ';,.;   1..1  .V  ,i„.  u„v-s ,:,..»■,*  n.- 

A,:,, i„.„.i.,- .j> '•■ :" i^™  '7' 

r:;::r;:t^r::::;:'::wt::;:i::;::-i^^ 

I 'it '•  -'•  ['»">•  "■  ~'ii:;;;2LiI^"- 

he  writes  :  — 

'.I,l„r..n...„lM.ru..ll.h..l>ourwlm-l,  l,.n^t 

Mvs.infssl...,,,    Ai-,v,hMav-.huvuU.-,as. 
\Vi,  .;.  I  NVH'ik.Ml  fo.tl.  u|.>...  the  -lutrrn.-  t;'"i='=S. 
A,„lu..,.,IU.-vno,.hv:,u,nl.!u.n.r..e 

FnMu.lH.n.ars..l.onlnH,M.  vnun.stl.ut.aU.. 

Tho  luusl.  an.l  ,ra.iu;,  snitV.  ot   tyrants  u,ul  ..f  f<H  3. 

.And  then  lc.l.sp..,l,nvlK.nasan,llook,.,lan.u,.^ 
,.„,,„„„  .as  ,..ar,o„„u.k,uvs,n.anuu,..-s 

>   Sl.,.n,.v.  as  f..na.t,.o.  of  sailing, uin.atu,.e,al- boat.    rf.  /:.sa- 

;/,„/„.,/  i7./M,,  11.  Isl-lsL 


XIV 


i.\T!:(H>r('Ti()y 


So.  ^^itl.oMl   .li:il,l,..   I  M.nk-:    "I   «ill  1m'   "ISc-, 
A,„l  li.^i    .11.1  Ir.  ■•.  .Hi.l  Miil.l.  it    In  Mi.'  li.s 
Sufli  puu..-.  I.. I    I  :^i"»   w.ai-y  in  i„-l.ol.l 
Til.'  -.Ifi'.li  ana  I  In'  stniiii;-  slill  l\  niimi/..' 

WmI ,.,M„;n'hor..ln...k.-      I  tin  n  mn,  ■  nll,.,l  ^_ 

Ms   t.:i.^.  n,>   h.MM   ^;n.w  .hIh..  an,l   1   u:.s  nn  .  k  .unl  bnl.l. 

If  in  tlir  ti.M  nionu  lit  ShrlK-v  frit  liis  .•..nscirnc-  .,uirken.'.l 
aiuM.Mliral.Ml  1..  tlu.rau^ouf  liluTtv.  so  in  tlu-  M.run.l  Ins 
i, „,,„;,„, i,.„  sou-lit  .Irlivcnnu'.'  from  tlu-  l.o,ul;.-c"  -t  tl..- 
,„^,,,.lv  iH.niia,'  :nnl  >iui>UT,an.l  l.e-U"  i"«'t':ul  to  M-rk  lu.io 
h..au.v  uii.l  l.u.Mic  it.  -n.i^  ...oim-nt.  too.  he  ha.*  11x0.1  ior 
us  in  hi-  //////'/'  '"  Inh'llrrtnal  Iltiint>j  :  — 

"  Wliil.'  \'t  ;i  1>ov   1  son- lit  fnr  uln.st^,  Mini  spM 

'riii.Mi-h  many  a  U-t.-niir^  .•inmiluT.  .'av.  and  rmn, 

And  sta.lit;lit  « 1.  Nvilli  teait'nl  st.'iw  pni'suint,' 

ll,,l),.s(,f   !ii-li  talk  with  till'  a.'l.ilit.'d  ilra.l. 
1  calliMl  .111  i...is..n..ns  naim'S  «ith  wliicli  .mr  y.n.th  is  fi'd. 
1  was  ni)t  liiMiii.  1  saw  Tln-lii  not  ; 
Winn,  niusiii^;  di.-ply  <iii  lli''  !'>' 
Of  litV.  at  thatswui'l  linn-  wln'u  win. Is  ;iru  wooing 
All  vital  tliin-s  that  wak.'  t.i  hriii^' 
Nrws  c,t'   hit'. Is  and  Ijlnssnniin^:;-, 
Sudd-'ii  thy  sliadow  frll   on  mi'  :  — 
I  shiiik.d  and  .•laspcd  my  hands  in  i>cst:isy  . 

"I  vowed  that   [  w.mhl  .l.Mili'at..  mv  i.,.wrfs 

To  the.'  an.l  ihlp.-  ;   hav..  1  rot  k^lit  thi-  vow  ? 

Tlo'V  know  that  n.'vrr  jiy  illimi"d  mv  1m-.. w 
rnlink.'.l  with  li.il..'  tlial   thou  w..ul.lsl  i'lco 
'I'l.is  w.iil.l  iioin  Its  (l.:vk  ^hivi'i'y. 
That  th.m.  V  awt".l  '1...VKLIN1;- s,  _^ 

Wonl.lst    j;ivc  whal. ■•.'.•  Ux  ■<     ^w.nls  .'ann,.t  express. 

Thes.  iu.sa-.s  vv.ro  vuur.iv.a  hv  a  saner  niinil  an-l 
^vl■itt..n  with  a  Meailicr  h:unl  than  wit.  th.  rather  l.n.hlic 
et^'nsions  of  Shi'llov-s  ..ai'li.'.'  s..iith.,>ro.liu-tin„swhu'h  ho-a,. 
first  at  K'on  to  eourt  pen  ami  i-a,..'!'.  Sov.ral  tra-nu'iu- 
an-  l.o.'.n-  hrlm-  to  this  ti.iu".  as  al-o  tly^  extravaoaiit 
rouiaiic.'.    Anstrn::i.  wruien    i)n.i..oo,y  in  .•„llai;w;ath;:;  wita 


ISTIiODrCTIOS 


XV 


,,,H„,  ,o   .h:uv  its    .M.lmMasn.  .  .1     kn.a.  1      ^^^^^^^^^ 

I    n..ll,>n    witl.  MtMhviii.  a.ul   imssil.ly  .il^"  ^^'^' 
^"  ;  ..f  ISlO-ll.    (JnilKim  may  hav.l.cLM.  as.o- 

-'>-'-^''^''V  ti       1-      ^vil^.a^vhlvlin,i.ul.ea, 

..       .•   1       11    tlw.   ronics  — wave   ono,  miu'c  lepniutc 
lull  nt    wlm-h  all  tlu'  opi  '^  nr)l.ai.ly, 

.1-,  ,l..s.tr.)V('a    or  sui'Pi''''^-"^'^^'-      '^  '  ,. 

^vcn■appan.ntlya  M.ou       >        1  j,avtner=*lup. 

M.awiu    h..lp.a    t<,    sl.apo    ^'- /f '";  :^;i   :  ^iWvi.u.  the 
,1„„„.  ;>,..l  tl,e  two  tvavellml  "!'.  '""''='  "j^.^j    c..ncRO 

•ri„„..i.y  w-  s---iy  f"  "■'■.;"  '  ,,.,„„,  sialic,  will. 

:;:-'f  ,.::::n,:"S  !;:;:i,::l'  :vi-in:nsf »... .« 

.vhat  was  passincc   m  ^Vv-  h'  mu  n,    a.  I  ^^^  ^.j^^_ 

,,  O.fonl,  aeciain,  wlK^t  h.- hkM  aM.l  ..  h,     Ue  ^^ 

He.  likM  tlie  seclusion,  tl.o  la.va.u-..  tl.L   natu.a  . 

ll:!:';:'!  We  aia  not  Uke  its  sleepiness,  as  co..e.vaU.u, 


•   I. 


I  I 


XVI 


ISTlKUtrcTION 


its  (tnlcilv  academic  routine.  ( Jiic  is  strikiiiL^ly  remiiulod  of 
Bacon's  iii(licliiieiit  of  the  ( 'ainliii<li,'e  of  liis  day  :  "  In  llie 
lllii  vei>it  ie>.  ;ili  lliili'4^  ate  loiind  opjiosile  til  tlie  adv;iuce- 
ineiit  of  tlie  MJeiices  ;  for  tin-  leadings  and  exercises  are 
liere  SI)  niaiia-ed  that  it  cannot  easily  couie  into  any  one's 
mind  to  tliini<  of  thiie^'S  out  of  tjie  coinnnn.  road.  .  .  .  For 
the  studies  of  men  in  such  |phice»i  are  c(»nlined.  and  |)inneil 
(hisvii  to  tlu'  uiitin'^fK  of  «'ertain  authors;  fioiu  \vhi(di.  if 
anv  man  ha]i|ii  ns  to  ditfer,  lie  is  jiresenlly  re|ii-esented  as 
;i  di^tuilier  and  innovator.  "  Siielley's  mind  — ah'it,  orii^inal. 
tiioMi,di  al\va\  s  in  certain  ie>]ie<'ts  untiaineil  —  thoiiL,dit  ot 
many  thiuLjs  out  of  ihi'  eommoii  road,  ilis  ju'ime  ( )xtoi'(l 
*  innovation."  it  is  true,  was  not  curefidly  conci-ived  or  tact- 
ful! v  jiresented.  It  was  a  jiiex'e  of  folly  for  which  he  paid 
dear,  iiut  it  wa>  not  di-lionoural)le,  nor  was  it  even  "dan- 
f^erous  "  in  any  vital  «ense.  Soon  aftxM*  ITu  iirrivul  he  made 
the  acquaintance  casually  of  a  felh>w-fre»ihman.  Thomas 
Jefferson  Ho^^jl,'.  a  well-born  an<l  woiliily-wihe  younij  man  of 
considerable  fultivation,  easy  opinions,  and  a  lialf-cynit-al, 
iialf-annisod,  interest  in  the  ])eo|)le  he  met  and  in  the  prob- 
lems Ik;  heard  them  discuss  and  on  occasion  discussed  with 
them.  Ten  years  later  Shelley  thns  described  him,  in  his 
Letter  to  Mari'i  <ii>il><>nit'  :  — 

"  1  cannot  oxjiresa 
His  virtu. -s.  tli<»iif;h  I  kiKnv  (liat  thcv  arc  j;rp,it, 
I)i'i';iusc  111'  locks,  tlii'ii  l^iiiricaclca.  the  f^ate 
Within  which  thcv  inh:ihit ;  -^- uf  his  wit 
And  wisdiPMi.  you   11  cry  out  wlieii  you  are  bit. 
He  i.s  a  pearl  within  :iii  ovstcr  siu'll, 
Out;  of  the  ric'lii'st  of  I  lie  ilecp." 

IIocTi?  was  stroiiLjly  attracted  by  Shelley's  look.s,  sincerity,  and 
enthusiasms.  The  two  met  nii^bt  after  ni'^dit  in  each  other'.s 
rooms,  and  del»ated  questions  of  literature,  science,  and  his- 
tory, on  Siielley's  side  with  fervour,  on  Ho;^i;'s  with  i^rowinif 
interest  in  this  rarti  a/v'.v.  an  interest  almost  wonder.  Hof:jtj 
deeiilv  re.snected  Shelley's  uowev  of  imaLdnation  and  niiritv  of 


ISTnoitlCTloS 


XVII 


rli:iract«>r.  ttinii(,'li   In-  ;illi>\vr.l   Iiiin-irlf  to  ii<>  (Mit<"rt;iiii(il    l«y 
lii-;   new   fiiciid's   txli  :i\  a^'aiicts  of    iniiimiT    aii'l    statt'iin'iit. 
II,.    Iki-.    Ifit    ii>    in    lii>   l.ih'  <'l'  Slnlhij    :i    .l.t;ul.-il    ami    pii'-    , 
tiin-.|iic   a.'coiiiit  (.1    tlic  iiHft  a-    lie    Ki  rw  liiiii  .luring'   tt"ir 
six   lliollllis'  (•(,inia>lf-iii|.  at  cuUf;;.'.     lie  .I.Miilir.i    Slifllt  >   s 
flmiiv   as-'-li-lit  ami    fra'^'il.-.  ami  yrt    lii^   Iioih-  ami    joints 
ucif  lar^r  ami  slion-.     II.'  was  tall,  l.ui  tio  sIimiikmI  so  iniifh 
that  Im' -.cfinrd  nf  a  low -tat  nic.     lliscluth.s  u  fie  fxpt'lisivc, 
and  iiiadi-  accni-dinLC  to  the  ino^t  aiiprovcd  iiiudc  nt  llicday; 
hill    Ih.y   WCIX"  tUlul.lrd.   IMMiplrd.   II  nluiisli.'d .     His    j,'CsturfS 
wiTi!  aKMijit.  ami  suimtiiins  violent.  ucr.nMoiially  even   awk- 
ward, yet    nioif    tri(|miitly    m-ntle   ami    <,nactfiil.    .    .    .    His 
fcaturi's.  his   whole  t'aee  and    pailiciilai  ly  his  head,  were,  in 
fact,  nimsnally  small  ;  yet  the  la-t  "/>/,r'iri<l  of  a  reniaikahle 
hulk,  for  his  liair  was  lont;  and  hnshy.  and  in  fits  of  ahsenre 
and  intheai,'onies(if  I  may  nseti.  •  woid)  of  anxious  ilioiit,dit, 
he  often  ruhhed  it  lieicely  with  his  hands,  or  pa-sed  his  nn- 
fjors  ([iiickly  tiuoii'^di  his  locks  unconsciously,  so  that    it  wan 
sinjjnlarly  wihl  and  rou^di.'  .   .   .    His  features  were  not  syni- 
meti'i-'     (the   mouth,  perhaps,  exc-jited  ),  yet  was  the  etVect  ^ 
of  the        M)le  extremely  powerful.    They  hreathed  an  anima- 
tion, a    .re.  an  enthusiasm,  a  vivid  and  i)reternatural  intelli- 
^'ence.  that  I  never  met  with  in  any  other  countenance.    Nor 
was  the  moral  exjjression  less  heantifnl  than  the  intelh-ctual ; 
for  there  was  a  softm     .  a  delicacy,  a  <j;eutleness.  and  espe- 
cially (thou-li  this  will  surprise  many)  that  air  of  jjrofound 
reliLcioUs  veneration   that  characterizes   the   hest   works,  and 
chiefly  tlie  frescftes  (ami  into  these  they  infused  their  whole 
souls)  of  the  threat  masters  of  Florence  and  of  Rome.''    Otdy 
liis  voice  did  HuLJt,'  Hnd  displeasinL,%  which  seemed  to  him  at 
first  "  intolerahly  shrill,  harsh  and  discordant."  Other  friends 
and  contemporaries  speak  also  of  this  defect,  hut  <renerally 
a"-ree  that  it  was  ohservahle  only  in  moments  of  hii;h  excite- 
ment, and  that  Shelley's  noruuil  tours  were  winsonu'  enough. 
The  two  friends  not  only  read   and   talked   together,  hut 
1  Cf .  •'  his  scutttTeil  liair."'  —  AUtstor,  1.  24S. 


¥ 


i 


i 


X  \'  1 1 1 


I\  rUODI'CTIOS 


il."r  w.M.M    in.-vr.h.lon.lv    ua.-l.    Sl„-ll.  y    porfurunn.r    h,s 
,U.::;.    ,.n,-,..nl,„.    .■lK.nn..al    ..M„.n.n..n...    o.    tl,..v     w,,nl, 
,,;.„;,.  :,1 Ml ,n.rysul.-Ni-ll-v-' 1 -I-- ''' » -' 

,..,,„,,  ii„l..  |,„  il,.-  >luaK--..u,->- '1  upn„l,nM.  :nnl  i.i.rMM.,1 
i;,...U.ll,...,,Mlinv,.-..,:mun.u,.l.:.  In,.. nuHh,,,,!...  :,.,.•,,- 

,i....lv   in.HM ..■uitlnMtlHM"i^-->"^  '"-'•''""'"■"•";:"'' 

i,„/|M„t,,nl,.  IMato.  \hmu:  Ln.U:  thr  (imk  t  r:„v,l,.>. 
Si:.U...n..:,iv.  ;m,l  Lana,.,.  1 1.  n.nl  inu..l  al>o  tu  wnt...  pui.- 
li.l.i,..-  .t  l.i-.uu  .xiM.UM-  an,.tl>.T  Kt..,u;.n  .uMKUH...  -  MM, 

l-,il„,;.  _,S7.  /,■,•,/.,..-,•  nr  Unslrrnrhu,  :  >....,.■  1M,1, tu.il 
v.TM.-  and  avulu,>H.nf,..iMH.lla>UMmsi,„H,vr.,„tain.n..lMM- 
h..,l,u.s  that  i.l,.as...l  uM.l.T^ra.l.ut.  last..  i.r.nU..!  tu^Khov 
,vi,h  sMMu.n,  ,.vs..,i.msw..vk  pnulnn.!  s,.asM,..l..-,U.V.  1  liat 
Sholh.v  runia  l.av..  l.c.-n  wlUin,  at  thi^  .la,,- 1..  ,.nl.l.4:.  Hmnuh 
,„unvnHM.4v.  l,is  rnwl..  an,!  ..vr^tranu-l  tal,..  a.,.l  to  ,.:>-<l. 
it.  furuuu.s  will.  ...tlm^iaMH.  atl.Ms  iKMl.aps  l,..tt.r  tlum  any 
,„l.,,.i,,.l..  ta,.i  ,h,T,.n,Hti,.n..niis.Titn.al  j.ul.^MMont  ,1m- 
in.MhMKtonl  .lavs.    Tii.  ,,,,.1  in  Imn  .nu>t  muvIv  hav.  K.cn 


l,ml...ta„ttl..-uinK-:    ••  I  am  aua.v.-  h.  u  .„t,- to  St„..Uale 
ll.,  p„l,U,l....  at..-r  na..,i.mln.,an  t..  I..  lVlt,'-..t  Ihenni-vu- 

,,,„;,.  .,,■    i,„l,ll.lnn.   a   l.-uk   m.   ilUr.,..>tc.a  .>  .S7.  /nv/... 
S...rU,lal..    tor   his   part.  lr...n    uhat.v.r   nmt.vo.  sIhto.I   up 
tn.ul.U.  lor  Slu.Uov  at  luMuc.  l.y  .ailing  his  ratlu.,-sat.<-.,tH.n 

toth.  m.s.mna.u;-  uf  his  vi..u  ■- ami  attvihutim^  tins  to  Ins 
,.„„,i„„,aasso..iati,mwithlI,.,t^.  I'an  ntal  -••hmliy  pat,..'- 
„,a-int,.m.nti,mtollouea.o>av  t,.  .•onHi.r.  MH-lh.y  m  what 
,„„,„„,  nu.^t  ,h-si,..at..  a.  th,.  hm./f  of  tlu-  n.i>..n,  .rstoo.h 
n.  v..w..a  c.x..h..llv  t,,   a,.t,.M,l  i.is  pnm.iph.s  to  tlm   ast.  an. 

t,.n.mainh.valtohisfm.naa,  all  ha.a,-,!.  1  hs  .•  .l.Ts  d,.! 
„.„  „,,,„  |,nn  with  the  wis.h.n.  Innn  of  huunmr  un.  sy.npa- 
^1,,  ,  thcv  -lia  not  U.mw  tlm  way  t,.  hi-,  h,a.t.  ami  l>a,l  th..,v 
known  it' th.>vwoul,l  have  fouml  that  Ima.t  at  tlm  moment 
..utof  tuno  ana  ha.sh.  Uar.u.l  Gn.ve's  alt.n-.i.m  was  not 
pv.K.f  a^ain.t  her  ahum  at  Shelley-s  reputo.l   In.resu.s  and 

'  ^  .       ,       ,  .■    ^      a-    l,..i;..V    ■■...1     unliclu!!. 

Ins  own    ,'xagt.';t'.uU-ii    >Uu  .awanjiis  ui    u-- 


]\ri:ni>i'(r!(>y 


XIX 


"iif 


S,,. ',,,,1,  lnv..,l  .n.l  -In.a.l.l  .h-  stnu,^.  v-mtl.  ;  Fn.l.;.- 
;„....:.il..,l.  an.l  in  ISll  >1...  .nam..!  -  n  ..l...!  ni.-ar-l,  as 
Sli.llrv  .I.tmIkmI  hi.n.  a. Ml.  M.lvai.      i"  . 

,.     „,,'     ..mlu    1......    IM.M    n,,..,.   .l.nin,   Ih..   (    najunas 

v...aU.::raMa,h..M.ati...l    I n„.l..,an.-..    tl...    ..>....•    nt   ;.!''_ 

.„...    11. w,.la,n„..l,l.a.   lU,,>hnu!.l.nanv    KhaKHl, 

,,U    ,1.1.-.    M^t.r.    ulm   uas  atV....tiuMa..  ly   .-..^.1.,,^  li-n.    at 

M,M.  ,,...l,a,..   all.   ..f    -Ins   o,il    l,a,l    l..-,    av,...!..,!    .1    .1- 
p,iuu.a,I.Ml..n.inl,a.ll>...nl..>siuM....M,.0.:.v,.nn^a^^^^ 

,.   f,.i..n.Nn..u.uilliuut..  n.ly  on   lus   ,,...• =^»   ;^"";'' ' 

,„a  r..ot  .l..nli.v.  h  ■.  far  ln„M  tl,.  n.a.k  ,.  allow  t-.at 
Sh..ll..v  ua-  at  any  li-u..  a  .LlilKTat.  ath.Mst.  >o  man.  u  -^ 
.,tV  t.'.  ^av.  has  f.lt  n.or.  .lim-tlv  an.l  ....nt.nnally  than  . hd 
';,,„....xM..n.-....f  al..-nelWntS,,in..    As  an  un.l.r^nu.w- 


,,.,    i,  ion,...  h.■uasaHWt...linhisth,.u,■htl,yth...^.uMnas■ 
;,f;,,,,,,iMisn,.l,^,a,n...inu,.a..s...l^.,...sn^at..th.    ...^ 
olanulmna,.-ln,.lli,.-H...an,lLov...     1,   ua.nl..  he  .htlw.lt 
t,,  lin.l  in  pun.  m..-atur..  a  m..e  ,.a,.r  lun.,cr  ami  tlnrsf  f^ 
,,-li„.ss  and   ,!u.  Source  of  i.oline>s  -Iwrn  a,Mu-a.s  n,  Slu-1- 

,!,.-s    .1,/ ns.    nr    rr.n.    //./A'..    77,.    /.■-.--//   ';/    /.sV..., 

.i,;,l    ]>,.,.n,rf/..»s    rnhoun.l.    n.,t    t..    speak    of    Ins    .,ust    an. 

;,,v..n.nt    Ks.nn.^  a<r:sf;.nufll.     With  what     u-  .....u-...v...l    . 

t„  1.0  the  inherent   tah.t   ..f  ...■.■lesia-.ieisn.    .... h.-.l    he  was 

...,„.,,„UV   at   wa...   like   Chaue..v.    M;^..-.    •  -'-;;;  ^^^  j; 
^^,„,  nn.wnin,.  in  tlu.h-  .liver-e  wavsMl.ou,h.  ..uhUe  .h..n., 

he  at.a..k,..l  n..,  nuMvly  the  t.int.  hut  .-vl...  an.l  wth  i.e.- 
,„,,„V.  the  entire  ehun.hlysysten,.  Tn  tins  r..,.u.l  he  he- 
t,.av:^l  ....usual  .est.  as  witness  th..  inM-l-atn-ns  ..f  ehar- 
..,;.r  in  ..ar.linal  an.l  ,.,,-i"  '^'^"'  TV-.,  a.nl  the  y.val 
.,i,,„,,s  .,f  the  r,'..>rf/n:..  when  e.„n,Kne.l  w.th  C  huu- 
eer-.  ,-o...l-hnn,..nr..,i  ..v.-lath-ns  in  77,r  (^n>f.;'l.>nf  T..h's. 
an.l  lt..wnin^'s  half-f.aen.ilv  .-on.h.mna.ions  ..!  Hh„u:.-n.n 
an.l  hiskin.h  Slullev  nnf.nlnnat.ly  t.MHh.l  t,.  ..l..nt,iy  alwavs 
pviesth..o.l  with  tradition,  th.'  elnarh  with  u.u:...ni,r..nns.nj,' 


i 


ill 


XX  TNTUODUCTION 

and    pov..M-utin-    .-onscrvatisn,.    TIumo   is    in    Ins  work   no 
..  povn.  I'.Tsoun  ..f  a  tonn,"  no   Innocent  XII.     H.,'  .b-l  not 
iKil.itnally  m-  l,oth  m.I.'s.  tli(.n,i;h  in  one  of  liis  more  lu-n-ivo 
nn.o.ls   I.'-  a.tnallv  expressed  a  deMre  to  l-rconn'   himself   a 
,„i„i>trr.    "Of    the   moral  doet  rines  of  (;iiri>liamty  I    am   a 
more  .leeided  diMMple   than  many  of  its  more  ostei.taUons 
prnfessors.    And  consider  for  a  monumt  how  mnch  ^ood  a 
,r.,„d  eler.-vn.an  mav  do."  '    I'.'.t  for  a  moment  only  Nvas  tins 
eonsidere.i.    Shrllev  wid.ed  eharaeleri>tieally  to  dispense  f.n- 
,.-,M,d  and  all  with  the  "law-  idea,  and   to  hrln-  the  sorely 
MdTerin.-  world  ont  into  the  li-ht  of  knowle.l-e,  virlne,  love, 
and  freedom.    He  knew  what  prayer  meant  :   lu-  was  deeply 
moved  hy  awe  and  wonder  in  the  contemplation  of  the  eternal 
inysteriJs.    In  hrief.  he  was  n<,t  the  enemy  of  veli-ion  that 
I,,',  thon-ht  he  WIS  ;  he  everywhere  iiroclaini.-d  the  eilieacy  of 
the  spirit  of  Love  in  liealins;  and  redeemin-  hnmanity.    In 
later  years  Dante  and    Petrarch,  in  some  respects  moddie.l 
Ids  aversion  to  historical  C  ristianity.  for  thron-h  their  works 
he  canu.  to  feel  keenlv  its  spiritual  heanty  and  power.    His 
(,wn  reli-ious  instinct  and  attitnde  as  a  yonth  are  sno-o;ested 
for  us  in\wo  stan/.as  of  Wor-lsworth's  0>/e  to  Duty : — 

'■TluTc  ;ir('  who  ask  nor  if  tliine  eye 
Be  on  tlu'ni  ;   wlio.  in  lovi>  .uul  tnuh 
Wlicn>  iio  inis^ivinj;  is.  rely 
TTpon  till'  ■;rni,il  sciisf  of  youth: 
Glad  lic:uts'.    without  nproiicli  or  l)lot, 
Wlio  do  tliv  work,  and  know  it  not: 
Oh  1    if  tlnont;li  contidi'iic.-  misi.laci'd 
Thty  fail,  thy  savin-  arms,  dr.ad  1*  "w.r  '.  around  ihom  cast. 

"  ScriMii'  will  l>f  our  ilays  and  hri.iiht 
An<l  h.iii])y  will  our  nature  he 
Wluai  lov.>  is  an  nn.rriu:^-  liuht, 
And  joy  its  own  security. 
And  (hey  a  hlissful  emirso  may  hold 
Ev'n  now,  who,  not  nnwisely  hold, 

1  Front  a  conversation  with  Thomas  Love  IVacoek,  reported  by 
him. 


XXI 

ISTllODVCTloy 

i;,v..  in  til.'  spirit  of  tl.is  cncd  :         _        ,     ^^ 
Y  ,  sc...k  thy  tirn.  su,.,ort,  accorJiu,^  to  the.r  nc.d. 

'P,,.    f,,shm:,n   of   University  College,   however,  with  a 

„     ,  ,  .....atious  ...a   for  reforuu  was  .n   ..o  n.oo.l     o 

c.on>i>l.r  his  ways  a.ul  he  ms.       H  ,^^^ 

^'^'•^^^'^^''    •^^^'-        ■      ,,lvnoaoul.t.arauKUie.    The  ar,n- 
„n,_-par,lysuH.eH..Va    1^  ^^^^^_^  „„u-nahslic 

;:::;:::i::;r;.i::^:t^ ::-:;:;--,;:-:: 

U„„wU..l,..  l.nt  tl.«  an.l,,.,-  «™,     ■   1        "^J  ^^  j_^;^ 

Stukeh.y-'   foreounsel  -''''•^■"'■■'-  ,;''   ,;;.i,.,ie.i..ea    contro- 
iurnishea   their   eorvesponaent    w:th    '"'"'' '^^-^^  ..      y;,,. 
.   ,  •„,<      Sl.ellev    haa   sent   a   copy  to   tUt   V  h  e 

versud    ope,Mn,s       ^Mjh  ^j^^^^,,^^  „„i   ,y    Uis    own 

CliaiiceUor   ami    to   eatli   oi    tut.  ^ 

Vr     .       I..  WW  iiiterro.'atea  ainl  coiuleinuea.    Upon       con 
Master  l>e  ^-^y".^^",,;       .,.  ^„  ,,i,,„3wle(h40  ov  to  aisavow 

^''"'^^'•"r  V       Tu.c  t^X  was    sun^narily  expellea. 
tl>e   anthorsh.p  "t   the    P'M  eiy  ^        ,^^,  ^.^,^,^^.,1 

Fron.  the  stern  conclave  of  Mast  i   .in.l  i,„t„„iv 

..v..n.lv  to    Ilo.-ui.h  thefatetnl   news;    H0-4  .n>tanu> 
"  •,        ,  ..eh    ana  .h.-w  „p..n  l>in.>elf  a  hke  exannna- 

^""^■^•'"^  '^"'    'V'^'^'-  '7^        ,,,,  ;,.,„...  l.ope.l  that  submission 
,•„.„.  with  a  ia.ere^uh.     J\^''*  •1" ''-      ,.    '    ,„  .„„^,a     ;„,l    the 

-"IT;:      :     ri,e,l;.anailo...i:nneaanan.onnu.a. 

1      :,      •si,ew!.onu.l>thavehe..on.en.oreanan.>re 

!;::,'s;!ih.v-s.l/ J/...  haa  hehavea   ,n   a   »«.   of 

„,,,.,nnM.aien..ashisy>..,A|..^^^^^^^ 
After  visiting  trien.ls  and  skumisUin^ 


ai 


''"^^'  ■  ;         ,,.,„'-_-tlK-twovom.^.m-nsoUl.Miamv,i 

"\Viirsa\v;in(lnt  iivfddiu.    — tmM>oN      ^ 
o    tlu.ir    l:aUitnal    ..on.nuU.hii,,    m,.,l    nU.m>i    M      -       .u 

inu.licit  future   oboai.Mu-.  .uul  a  rupture  w.th  Ilu-,, 
ciu.nu,  "'M'''-      '  ,,,^^.,,  i.iu.     11.  h.a  als.,  aa.,ur..a 

:t:::'m-':;:t,....-.:n...^:"-. '--": 

s„.,„  >v„l,.l,H„-  ...■  «..»  .;,h,lr..-„  to  \"H,  to  ■■"•'' 
Sl„.ll,.v    wh..  ,J....u.,l  to  (ollow  Ititt,  Ut.r.t,,..    »lt"  "•"■'' 

.w:ti;,K..o,u'.i.ii".  ...--.>•■ '"™'^''7, ::::;; 

;,  ,     ,.n..,.  t«-i,„  »  .v.i.l....t  of   1 '-■  -"'  I""""'"-' 

l,..il-  vi'il  aiul  i)t'ison;u  —  niiwct^" 

:;;;::,.^;t::  ■;::;;.'—- 

,.f   l,..r      Hirri.'t  was   a  ninsoiue   la.>.  .  xiiniMU  ix 


XNTllODVCTloy  ''''"' 

pavticnlavly  attva<.t.ve  -;    '  ^  ^;  ;;:^.;,,  .,  ,u  views,  sh. 

vapuUv  .-.e  una.-  the  <•'-;;-;  ;-^,.,,,  ,.,,„  .eeUs 
luulvassoahevln.ut     .e,au     .    ul        O  ^^^^^^^^._^^_^^^ 

^,,,  Uis   part,  knew  notlun,.  .      -         -^^^^^^^^^^ 
snehap.    -^''li'v.  InU  took  a  1.  .  •- ^^^  ^^^^^^^^^ 

"^    "-'^'^^  =*'''  :'      'W'ri-r  ::;:ntly  coneemln,  the 

1--  ana  '^V''""     ,       I      .iet'she  hhtheveaftev  l.e.an  to 

„„„evs  they  a.senssea     Han  et        ^  .^^^^^  ^^^^  ^^^^  ..  ^^^,.. 

,-,U,  ana  SheUey.  at,.-,hut.u.  th     to  so.  ^^^^  ._^  .^^^.^^_ 

----••  -^^:"'r:;r:tl.ha,ainh..oke   a  Uu-ee 

^^•^':  '7  '■''■"'';;  ;n^:tenvava.Havn.t-sp.-eeeptn.ss 

.vithlntoenuu.^-    >      ^     ^^^._^^^ 

•^'^^•'T^' Titl-Il-uul   even,  it   is   saul.  suspenaea 

hoth  her  ami  hi^   lanuiu 

Hanlet.  .  ,•  f  (\,,,t;iin    PilfoM 

^^--^'^7^^7T';.u-r-;  :n.vsheiiy-spou.ie.i 

ana  the   Duke  of  No  tolk.  M  ;,,,,_,.,.,. ,„,iu.i  toh.s 

ehieMh.t,enth.nuu.lK..une        a     ^  ^^^^^^^^ 

..n.enaoweahim.nu.ona^.    a^^^^^^ 

sentea  to  ve.eive  ''^'".^^  ^  "^'\    '  ;,  ,„„,,,..,  .n.l  Eli/aheth, 

S,eUeyfouna^nst.a.n.ev.^^         .  .,  hi.  aesi.e  that 

aeavly  as  they  lovea  hnn.    ^  .  ^^^  ^^^^,  ^^.^^^^^  .   ..  [ 

she   shouhl   aeeept   Ho,,-     » *' ^  "     "^^       ,,u  with  !    I   son.e- 
,.,.pevieethennan..a^    .^         l^^ 

tin.es  -''-^-^^rV  •  I  i^av  ehMiuent;  o.l,e.wi.e 

^^^^   '^  f ''^^  ^'T  \vir        pavtiedav   oh^eet   in  view.-;    Ho 

.vvote  not  ^av  ^    H^    -^  ^^^^^_^^^._  ^^  ^^,^„    ^.„,,   ,  ..sly 

i:.:i"a:::;:it.ess    w^nnn    he   inul   n,et   at   Capta.. 
Filioia-s  l-,on<e  in  < ""••l^'";''^-  ,,,.^,,   Hhavaaer, 

Wales,  sliovtly  sueeeediu    I  oik 


i 


isri:(>i>i''"i'^'^^ 


=^'''^r''''''rrnWwn.teon..e    a.ain.   appealing   t.. 

SlK.ll.v  to  sav  \m--v  In.ui  ,  .  „;„;.,een  -  P'-stM  at  cu'c^ 

,,ea.t.a  youth  -- h-^  ^^^^^^^,^^  ^^^  ,,^^.  ^,,,,,,a  avp.ai- 

^"  ^^'""^'r-  v'"      T,ivwlu.n  she  falUTingly  tola  1..M.  love. 
......  a,uU.nb,  -^"t     JlesfeltiuB^>^v..iug•si^yr- 

Sh.•ll.■y   aoublL.=  Kit  as  omt 

''  If  wl)<>»'V('r  loves 

^Vl,v  s\,o,.M  wo  always  .hoos.  tl  .     ..i,<    _l 

],::.i..wo,nanwithnU..n 1  ot  ..... - 

l,iu.l...yself4..ee..h...v..ts..e,.... 

1       f-  1,-w  (^ouvsf  as  vcsemhUii;^ 
^,^  ^^  ,,,,,,  H.,,  ho  s,.as..^ 

,.^^,,„,  ..„.W  a.   urn     .^^2a^alou^:sh.wlli,htit.as 
A„..n.l  Hvssh.  ana     lav  .t    l>  ^  .^^^  ^^^^^^^^ 

__l,v^oa.htoKalubm-l..^^i-■    ^"^^ 


'_'S.  ISll.  ,u,,,,ito   fuKiurlal  tronhles.  for 

,..„.  hn.hana  ana  -;'"-•'''        ;„^,  his  son.  again  u  ith- 
S..,U.v-sfa..v.ao,.Un.-^^^^^ 

.ln.vvhi^:na—^1>"'"  ■''"-"      .        '  york.    ana    was 

aon.i.a.a  with  ins  tvunuls.    1  .1-  "1-   -  .^,^„^,^,,-,  entlmsi- 


at 


jyTUOhVCTlON 


XXV 


\ 


...hool.^ivl.   very  w.lhn,  .o  •»     1  ^^^^^        i,u.n..MU!4 

U.e  .V.V.1U.VS  nu.vM   on    U^  -1^      .     ^^^^^^^^^     He  nuule  a 

to  seek  a  prsonal  '"t--  w  ^   ;     ^^^   ^.^  ,,,,,.  ..ly  to    u, 
,..t,ytnpl.toSnspasU^^-     ^^^,,^^^^^     ^  ,^,   ,a, 

.u-t  with  Mr.  ^lu^ll;^  ;'^    ^,;^„,,,  .vhose  tu.e  .nental  ami 
conversation  w.tU  '^^>^%"'^   "!^  ,i,,Uy   overrated,  was  Im 
piritnal   .nalities    ''V"'TLm    -    -  returned  to  York 
J„W  ,ain.     Passiu,  ^;-;^^^,^°  !  ^    ,..,,e   north    and    i>ad 
to  'tin.!  that   Kli-*    '^^^'^'       ;,  1      Thon,h  Shelley  was 

aware  of  tld.  plan,  and  had  to  ^^^^^^^  ,,,o,van>n.e 

l,een  .on>ewhat  diseoneerted.    At  ^^^^   ^ 

.as  inan,nrated.  ^^^^^^^^^,  J  hy  Shelley,  who 
.vho  was  as  clay  m  f^^''"  ^  '  "lu>y  Ho,,,  who  was  not 
.o.dd  only  look  on  juul  --  ;,;^  ^as  feelin,  the  need  ot 
.•onsidered  at  all  "--;:;  /^.....t.  an  interest  wh.h 
protection  fron>  Ilog^  >  ''''\  I-  tUon<d»  not  the  continued 
iuntlv  cost  hin.  the  --'^  ^^  ^^^^^^]  sh,Uev.  Frcnn  York 
...iendship.  of  a  ^--;;';;   ,  t,.  three,  hut  with   Eh.a 

,,,  lutle   conM.any.  stdl   -^^^     ^^^^^.^  ,,a  setth..ln> 
-thephu.eofHo,,pv-;^       ;^^^.^.^^.^,    ^ 
Chesuut    Cottage     mv       I  ^,^^,,,,    ,     n,>y>n, 

H.ve  they  st.yed    toi    -^   ^^  ^^    ,,,t,  and  with  du.rs 

,,..,,U  with  the   h.^^£^^-^W^,^   ,,    ,.,   ,1  orter 
lUerary  enterpr.es,    >nc      la       a         ^^^^.  .^^^^    _^^^^^^_   ,^,,     , 


INTROTiVCTJOy 

en!  in   ..-l-'  -"^    l''?'   i;:^,,!.  l.ut   tUuu,h  Shelley  tnet 
,.,un^.v  nu>eU  v-'^-f   ^^'^       ,,,,„.ss,  !.>•  sunn   aVtevwarc 

-vote  .o  M-H-'''^'--'-^  ,,,,,,,  „,.uMhatWi.  or  can  1.0 
.-.uulhey  as  1  .lul.    •    •    •  ^^     ^  ,,;„,   to  ;  Ins  nun.l 

•    ,/,nl'lvn;nn.\vcon.l.are.l  t»  ii-    •     '      ,  „ 

The   Dukeot    >'"'^"^^;      '"  ;;a  son -in  response   to   a 

-^u,ly  letter  tn.n>  Bvsshe       H-       ;^^^  .^^.„„,  ,,,,,  opened, 
t..v  was  not  at  once  aajn-te.l.    -      i  ^Vestbvonk  ^veve 

..ai.efo.elon.theyoun..nn^;;^; ,..,  .eat.    Sho.ly 

i„vite.ltor.n.vs,oke.the     )nU  ^^^^^^   ^^^^   .^^^„^,,^^.   ..j 

a(terwa>a   it  was   uannate.l  ^o  S  -     >  ^^^^^^^  ,.„„,.„t   to 

^,0(.0   annually  nu,l>t   l.eon.h-^^^^^ 

-'^^"'  ^'^'  """'  ':  *^^nC^';Vo.posea  the  lawol  pvi.no.eni- 
John.    Shelley,  who  stvun   1>  ^^  ^^^.^.^.^.^  ^as 

Uu-e  ana  helieve<l  that  he  lu.a  -J^^'.  ^,.:„,,,,..  ,..1  with- 
tentative  sn^.e^tion    aeeUnea  U  -  ^  ^^^^^^^  _  ^,,.,  ,, 

outpavley.    Shouia     elum^^^^^^^^^^^ 

thought  unbkely.ashean.uM-^  ^^.^^  ,^,^^„^,,.,„, 

posea   to  shave   U  wuh    h^  t    -  ^^^  ^^^^  ^^^^^^^^  ,^^,  ,,„t 

L.ose  J.owevev.  Shelley,.  the^U^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^,^,^ 

Lis  father  a  letter  so  .just  ana  km  It  ^^^^  ^^^^^^_^^  ^^^  ^.,,,^^  ^^.^^ 

.vasinaueea.ana  ^^y ;^:^'''''':^:''\r;^  .^  ^i,. -uu,  sun.  ^rantea 

,,.in   .ettlea  ap.n.  l''-    ^^^^  ^,,,,;,tenee.  saved  the  youn, 

1,V  Mr.  Weslhr<.ok  to      i^u  ^^^^  ^^^^^^.^.^^  ^,,^,^01- 

^;,ol,lefromwhathaahecomeaualj 

arv  poverty.  .  .  m     .^i  Kton.  was  much 

■| '  -"  '•■■  ■■•■•■"""' ""'     :,    "■  ''"'■"■•■■''  ■'■"- 

i,„,vc,u..i  i..  <-:u,l«,.  -  -■■■■„  „,,„„  h,.  ...»  I,.ar. 

„■,,,   n.  .„....■.•.,  I...1  -;  ^'"»  ;     ,^.^.,„,,„,_i„.i,ad 

suppusea  hiin  >ieaa       ■■■■-       -      - 


lyTIlonrCTION 


XXVll 


l,i.  wife  ana  si.t.r-u.-l.u.  U  tt    ^  ^^^^  ^^^        1,,,,. 

I'M-l-'-^'-^V'f  "',in:mon  in  itself. -l- •'-;- 
(,,.;„,  Ut,l.  for  Cath.au.  La  ..,,,,  .-^tne.  no  pavtv  Imt 

.  ^^.„,,,.,.-.  __  ,..  -v..v.lua.->  tin    -  ^^^^^^^^^  ^^,^    .,,,/,.,.. 

gcvvuH'  ol    1".    1  ,.v,.'.tt'a    sonu"   stir.  and. 

.uaaea  l.y  C-auUK  M.n.,Ut  to  1  o.n  _^^  ^^^^^  ^^^^  ^^^^^^^  ^^^^,, 

.  Association  ..f  rhllanthrop  >t>.  ,,     ^,,  .ann-hlets 

,,.eatlv  en]oy.a  then-  ';-^^';;:  ;;:\     ,,  ,,,,.    the  .inaow  to 
i;.  .vote,  so-aetunes  tl--;^jl-^^^^^^,^    ^^^„,,,  .,,    some 

'•  l-'^-^Vv  •'  1'---^^-        !'   '^'      ''  ,    .na  thereafter  u-et,  though 
,.e.ptance  at  a  vuhlu-  m.  U.u,  ^^^^^^.  _^  j^.^,^  ^    ,     ,,. 

,,,th  seant  satislaetn.n.      -    -^  ,.;„,,,,  nnnle  huu- 

Heeneoanterea  P— ^•^•>'7.:  ;,.,.,„  i  ,..etlonset  in.  a  re- 

aetion  aue  partly  to  »-';--;,        ,^, ,.,  (...i.in^  rather 
-tuationiuanypraetn.a.a-^^^^^ 

elulhn,    erltielsms.    At^  1-^  ;■         ^^^^^,,„,.,^   aay>.  V'-^-'^ 
f.rHolyheaa.   ana.aie     -  Here  he   pennea    one  or 

,,u,atNant,walt.^o.h^y^^^^,^^    ,,,,,,,,  l,,vel>ea- 

t-  ^'>--'^-  ^'"'7-  "'  "  e.  u-  man  ana  writer,  thenee- 
eoeU.  a  liheral.  ^l^--^  ;^'  ^J,  ,,,kes  were  up.  ana  the 
i.,vth  Shelley's  Iruna.    Hut  a^^ 


4f| 


I 


XXVIU 


i\Ti:()i)rrTi()S 


1 


\\i 


rims  rwv.'t 


V,  tiist  to  tlw  di'iivc-;"  lioiii^.  near  liy,  and  tlicn 
id  Clicpstow.  iMul  to  Lyiiinoiuli.  Dfvoii.  Amid  tlic  <Miti;iMC- 
iiiL,'  (■<):i>t    -(•fiitiv  tlicv   st:i\c.l   two  moiitlis.  ami    Ihtc  lli<'y 


illlrd  I  \\<-  :iil\  rll 


t   (il    .Mi>-   I  liti'lllllt  T.  W 


<-liai'm>.  Iii.wrvrr.  >l((\vl\    l:il 


l:i|isiil    iiiio   ciimmiiiiiphicc  iii 


1: 


ti-:iunlin:irv 


Slirl- 


Icv  s  ;i>    HI 


11; 


llirt   >i     tlllllkll 


I- 


I'DIM 


•I'liiih'.    thriMi'^li  ,--t\ir;i 
rc:i(ilii'4    iiinl   wriliiiL^ 


1  trnii^itiiiii^.  "'  1 


it'    my  sold 
I  )rmon. 


>l'o\\  II 


wi'iil.   OH    m    li\  nmoiilli,  am 


1   at 


as  liiixilv  at  work  ii|)oii    lii>  (,hiri'ti  M"/i. 
he  wrote   liis  liirtliday  sonnet  and  his  hlaid.;  verse 
I     jielined     his     elier'j,itic    Lctti'l' 
\-j^    till'    ])roseciition   of    one 


me  s  yi 


{'le 


Much 

tl.i~  time  Shelley  w 

1  lere.  too, 

ai)oslr(i])he    to    llaniet.    am 

td   L'ird  J:'l/i  ii/ioroii'///   conce 

Katon.  a  jioor  liookseller,  tor  i)al)li>hint;-  pait  of  I'a 

of  Hpjisoii.     'I'iie  Devon  coast  saw  Shelley  often  enfjfa^M'd  in 

Iho  l)oyisldv  serious  hii>ine>s  of  sciitteiiii<;   his  revolutionary 

writini,'-  to  the  world    it  lar^^e  through  the  media  of    liotths. 

sea-hoxes.  and  lire-ljahoons.    'I'lio  arrest   of   his  man-ervant, 

however,  while  dist rii)  itiii^r  .-opies  of  the  Shelh-yau  J>i'rl,ir<t- 

il<,n   nf  /t'l'jhfs,   deei('.'d    th(3    swift   min.h     Wlien   (iodwin 

iirrived  unexpectedly  in  Lynmontli.  Septendier  IS,  he  found 

his  disciph'  iiown. 

Diirini;  tlie  next  year  SlieUey  traveded  variously  in  all 
])arts  of  tlm  riiited  Kim^MJom.  He  settle<l  first  at  Tan-yr- 
allt.  near  Tremadoe.  Carnarvonshire,  and  turned  from  the 
refonn  of  liumanity  to  that  of  nature,  earnestly  aidin.i,'  W. 
Alexan.ler  Madoeks,  M.  I'.,  in  his  attemi.t  to  reclaim  sev- 
eral tlu.usiuid  acres  of  land  from  tlie  sea.  While  visitiii'jf 
London  in  order  to  raise  a  siihscription  for  this  iiroject,  he 
seized  the  ojijiortunitv  to  visit  the  liome  of  (iodwin.  wliere 
lie  met.  he-i.ies  llie  old  philosoplier.  —  wdio  looked,  Harriet 
thonL,dit.  like  Socrates.  —  tiie  second  Mrs.  Godwin  alsu.  hor 
VomiLC  son  William,  and  Fanny  ( Imlay)  Godwin.  Iniin  to 
iSIary  Wollstonecraft  l>ei'oro  slie  liecame  Godwins  tirst 
wife.  Clara  Jane  Chdrniont.  dau-^hter  of  ?ilrs,  Godwin 
an<l  lier  lirst  hushand.  and  Mary  Wollstonecraft  Godwin, 
(hui,i,diler  of  Go<Uvin  and  liis  lii'st  wife  —a  sufieiently  com- 


i 


lyfiiouucTioy 


XXIX 


pUcaU'.l  fiiinily.  this 


WITl- 


)f  Slu'lley'^  st:»y  n 


H'CDilU' 


\ 

l..ft 

thi'iii.    NVli 


o-clV  < 


1)11  rt'o 


ird  11" 


;il,s.M.t(luriti-iiiust  of  tlu.'tiiiie 

Loil.lolK   Hiul,   th,.ll-l.    l">tl>   W.T.-  Sn.,11   to 

I   will,   tilt'   lift!  of   tlu!  l-oct,  lu'  lus 
f   his  iini.ri-sioiis.  if   ht!  lln'ii  saw 


011CI'11H'( 

miiiuttJ  o 


1,.  II,    London  ShcllfV   made 


>tl 


Otllfl' 


fi 


•luls   also, 


am 


I  >oii-ht  t»ut  llo--.  l-'vii 


lllUii'^ 


^U^ 


li    ifiu'wal  as   was  i)Os- 


■,1,1,.  of  lliuir 


,1,1   association. 


Miss  Ilitcluiifr 


lier   ji 


l,fin;4  lost,  took  luir  timil  leav..-  ( 


,f  ShfUfV  hospitality, 
li 


(Ifstal 
••  Wo 


wei-i-  nitiru 


Iv  .Ifreivt-a  in  Iht  .-iKua.-tiT  as  U.  .■.■i,nl.luni-.,.sn. 
li'ish   frii'n.l.  Mr.-  Catln'n.i^' 


wrolo  llanii't  to  im    Ins 
"and  in   short  eviTythiiu 


olso  w 


hicl 


1  she  pre 


Nni'cnt, 


tended    to  be. 


Novenihe 


of  happy  < 


her  15  Trei 


naduc 


loinesticitv  foUowec 


,;\vasa-ain  in  siKdit,aiid  months 
1,  Shelley  reading  nmeh,  con- 


tiniiinL' 


Queen  Mth.  r 


dieviny   the  distress 


of   the   pi>or 


ahont  him,    at 
imprisonment   o 


d  consumini;  lii3  s'>n 


1   in  inilii,niation 


at    tl 


le 


R 


ipi 
e'a-n 


f   Leij;h   limit  for  a  lihel   npon  the 


'nnee 


t.    Late  m 


Fell 


niarv. 


18i;^,  a  hnvglaiions  attaek    was 


U.  npon   the  poet  s  home 


am: 


1  his   life  seems  to 


Lve  heei.  in  some  danger.  At  all  events,  the  uieulent  «as 
nervously  n,as,niitled  hy  SheUeV  into  -  atrocu.ns  assass.na- 
^     "and.  eo^vineed  that  some  sinister  villaui  was  on   Ins 

:  I,  he  h.ft  a,ain   for   Duhlin.   Tlienee  the  yonn,  f^umly^ 
•onrneyed  to  the  heantifui   KiUarney  Lakes,  and  by  Apr.l 

wei-e  ao'aiii  hi  London.  . 

QuZ.  Mai.  a  Ion,,  uneven,  nnrhymed  poem    lync  a,., 
hen,ic,  far   n.ore  representative  of   the  hoy  Shelley  than  of 
^    ;!,  was  completed  in  the  spring,  and  ..s  pnn^     for 

restricted  distrihution.  in  1S21  its  author  ^  ----^  - 
"  a  poen,  •  .  •  written  hy  me  at  the  age  of  -S,'  '^een  --  I  h  t 
savm  a  sumciently  intemperate  spirit.  .  .  .  1  douht  nothnt 
thi;,  it  is  perfectly  worthless  i..  point  of  literary  con.p.-tm,> ; 
1  I„.,„  InU-restins  article  in  Th.  Centnr^j  Ma^<nin.  for  ()..t..l..r  I'.X).,, 

hopulessly  Jiseusud  sheup. 


x\x 


i.\Ti:()iir(Ti<>\ 


and  thiit.inall  lliat  .■niicrin- iin.riil  ;uul  i.nlill.Ml  sppcnliilion. 
as   w.  11    a-,   ill   tlif    siil.tl.-i    ,li>ci  iiiiiiialioiis    of    iii.'taiili\  Mcal 
aii.l  ivli-i..iis  .loctiiuc,  It  i>  still  iiinif  iMiiii.'  and  iinMiatui.." 
Dii.in-  UiL-  same  yt-ar  lu-  un.f  In  Wovaw  Smith:   -  It  yn 
iK.pi'ci'  to  l';i^''  l>i">''4l't  a  .M.l'V  "I  (Maikrs  ..ditiim  ..f  r,>(0.,/ 
.)/'//,  tor  me.  I    sliouM   liU.'    v.tv  u.'ll   to   s.'c   it.—  1  ivally 
l.unllv  l<n..w   wliat  tl.is   poiMu   is   al...ut.     1    iim   afiai.l   it   is 
ratluT  ron-ii."     TIr-  lantln,'   in   tlir  (.orm  -avi-  Iut   nam.'  t.. 
Shrllrv  and   ilaviicfs  first  child.  lanthr  Kli/a!>Hh.  l-uin  the 
tolh.uin-  dun...      SlH'lh'vV   S-'ptrniL.T   sunn.'t.    To    inithr, 
expn^scs   tin'   i,n-(.uini;   lovi-    he   hcstowed    npun   tlu'    iidaut. 
After  her  rominLj  a  rcMnoval  was  mad.' to  I'.nicknt'lh  in  Ucik- 
shiru.  at   tlu!    sn-4t'sli.)n   .d'    Mr-.   I'.oinvdh'.  a   cidtiirL'.l  an.l 
hi-h-prin.'ii.h.l  \v.)man.  an.l  Inr  .luU'^hl.-r,  Corn.lia  Tarrn'r, 
uh..m  Sh,  Ih'V  ha.l  ni.t  in  L..ud..n.  Fn.m  15rackn.-ll  llu-y  w.nt 
int.)  Iht'   Lake  .'.nintry.  an.l   thence  t.)  K.linhnr-h  a-^ain.  with 
Peac.M'k,  hut    hy  Dc.'end.er  weru  ha.'k  in    L..n<l.)n.  securin;^' 
11  tcmix.rurv  h..me  in  Win.l<..r.  near  Dia.'kn.U.    Shelley  was 
n..w  teelini:  ke.nly  th.'  n.'.'.l  .d   ad.lith.nal    income,  and  ha.l 

lately  pai.l  a  clan.iestine  visit  1 .■.    lie  wn.te  niu^.'  a-ain  t.t 

his  lather  for  considerati.m,  nr-ently.  hut  in  vain.  Such 
money  as  was  iinperativ.dy  nece.ssary  to  him.  therefore,  ho 
riiised  on  p.ist-ohit  honds. 

The  hi.);,n"ii)hers  of   Shelley  a-ree  tluat  shortly  after  the 
birth  of  h."r  first  hahe  a  certain  insensihility,  always   latent 
in  Harriet's  temj-er.  he-an  to  sh.>w  itself  in  iK'culiar  fashion. 
She  lost,  almost  cmplet.  ly,  her  interot  in  h.)..k.s  an.l  read- 
im^r.  in   intellectual  a.lventnres.    and    even    in  the  <loniestic 
responsihilities  attachin-  to  her  :ts   wife   and  m.)ther.    That 
Shelley  felt  deeply  this  dimiinition  of  her  customary  che.r- 
fulness.  this   new."  stranj^e  ah...fn.'<s  „f   his  f..rm.  rly   hri-ht- 
natniv.l  wif.'.  is  amplv  evid.'Ht    fn.m  the    leslimony    of    his 
jDems  an.l  1. 'tiers.    With  an  achin-  heart  he  watche.l  the  too 
rapi.l  conrse  ..f  the  chill  curr.'nt  of  in.lilY.'r.'nc.    S.)m.'tinH's 
he   woul.l   turn   to   the    H..invilles   in    perpl.^xity    a.i.l   .h^d.!. 
r ,.r,,l,l,.m  lie   h.inllv  knew   how  t.>   voice. 


.  .1  :,. ..  1...1, 


i\'  il:i>hr<  rios 


XXXI 


Harriet  al^.i 


,t    a    voiu.-   iiiatiMii   who   l.M.ke.l   UI...11 
;.,,,,,u,l.a>.a--.K.a.,......,alvi,.w-,an.lu.a.nu..su>tl.l.->si.ar- 

;;i,,,.„..„l„.i......    N,.u  1,.  was  n.a,ll.,,  •■ap.un.u.ly  vv.  h 


II 
tit 


0>rn:.liaT..n...r  in  tl..-  Italian  ,..M.ts.n.,w.l.l.ati..^ 
soinr  v.-li''l...i-  nii...liti<'al.|.i.'>ti 


ar.liMitly 
,,,,.  n..w  iiii|.iil-ivrly  waii.l.T- 


.,,;^^,„,,.„,  or  !..-in,  lnn,...in„  fa...a>.i..  al,Mra..t,.,n.  l...t  si,,., 
wi;.l.a,luiv..nh..r.4n,>ln,nf..ralltin..sw-asn..tn..-...vn,, 

a    .  ....n.,l..va,i a.,.l  .li.l  n..t  f...l  th..  n......>Mty  ..t    -naU.n, 

L.ifta,n,.n.ssiv....n,..    T....yw..n.ln.s,,a,,.l..^^^ 

,,,.1  tl...  witV  ha,l  n..  iVar  ..f  l..s,n,Mh,.  lu.shan.l.     ItSh.lKy 

,,,,., It,,  l.nak   tl.n>ngh   tl.i>  tihu    hanlenin-   ,nt..  a  La-TUT, 

Klla  s  .-..nstan.    ,,.■.•>....•.■.  -lu.h  ha.l  Lecn...   v.vy  uks„,no 

hi„..an,liIan.i..tV..uvl,.sM,,.sst,,war,lIanth....na.l.    h. 

a,.,.u,tn..,n.an.l,n..n.,litli,ul..    Thn,n,h  the  a.lvH- u    lu.- 
sister  a.ul   fath.r.  t,....  ilar.i.'t  was  he^nnnin-^  to  press  for  u 
:rsocialstati..ninlire.    Wa.  n.,t  Shelh-y  a  haronet-to-he 
an.l  heir  t.>  a  ,reat  estate  Mt  was  h,-,.nnn,  surely  apparen 

that  the  n-la.ion  h.^tuveu  ihe^.  two  ha.l  never  heen  a  v.tal 
o„e.  hnt  ..nlv  for  a  tin.e  vi,ali/.e,l.  IVsp.te  a  see.^ul  n.ai- 
ria.^e  eeren.ony,  enter...!  up,.n  Mav.-h  '>2  tor  le.,al  reasons, 
■UHl  .lespite  Slu.lU.v's  passive  aeeeptanre  ..f  the  .luty  of  pa- 
::!:.Kli.aan.l    Harriot,  hv   April.  lSltJ.a.l  taken   ,he,r 

departure  f.>r  a  season,  an.l  Shell..v  ha.l  written  the  n.ourn- 
ful  stanzas  printe.l  .-n  pa,e  1.  The  f..ll..wMn.,  n.onth  h,3 
acUlressed  a  poen.  to  Havnet.  conelu.lin;^  with  this  appeal :  - 

"0  trust  f.)r  .nu'f  ii>>  t'rrin.4  s'"'!'^  • 
Hill  the  rL-iiiDrsi-less  f..,liiiS  flt-e  ; 
T  is  maru',.,  't  is  it-veii'^L.,  't  is  pride, 

•T  is  ;iii\tliiii;^  liut  tti,-,-  ; 
0  dei^n  a  iioliltr  l.iidu  t,)  iintve. 
And  pitv  if  then  .■aiist  net  love." 
.    Harriefs   las,    l,-.,e.s    t„    M.-.  N,.^,nt,  however,   contain   several 
very  iiU'eulionatu  relenUL-ts  U<  l.uillie. 


i 


it. 


4  ' 


"'I 


.\  X  X 1 1 


r\  ruohi  (  I  i<f\ 


Uiit   llanift  rf!:i:iiiii'il  aujy,  scttliif^   now  ,it    Uatli.  wlulo 

Slulli  V    u:ilkf<l    «lfH|i;iiiiiii;ly    lli«'    stifi-ts    of     L.hmIoii.      'Iu 

,Mll.d  not  iiit'if.|iu'iilly  111   tin-  hoMic  uf    liis  iiiiiM.T.  (JcKmii. 

wlius,.  tiii;iiici,il  (MiiilirhHi  \\:i-  t'Mii  Wdisc  lliuii  lii>  own,  ;iii.| 

whum  111'  w;i.s  (l.v.ili-dly  ;uixic.ii>  to  rclifV.'.    ( )   .■  iiiiclsiiinim  r 

,I;iv  lif  m.'l         |ir..li;ilily  tlifii  lot-     In-    tii-'t    liint--    (in.lwin's 

(1:ii.l;1iI'  1    M.iiy.'  »  \tiitirii  \c;irs    (if   a'4<'.  palf.  tarri.^t.  an.l 

licainil'iil.    'IMicir  iiil.ll.ctiial    ^\nlllatll\    \va>  iiimi.Mlialc,  aii-l 

al't.i-   l>ul    a  in.iiitli  of   aciuaiiilanci-  t  arli    Kmu    hnl   too  .■.f- 

taiiilv  ill"'  fi'i'liiit;  of  tlif  olliri.    A^  \<t   ii<>  uonl  of  disloyalty 

to  Hanift  was  iittcii'd    on    ritiici-   side.     Siullfy  d'nl    not    at 

thf  nioiinnt   iiflif\c  that  an  lioiiouialiK'  ii  lease  was  open  to 

him.  aii.l  Harriet,  for  lier  part,  was  now  l.ei,nnninL;  to  ni^Met 

tlu'ii-  division.     By  .Inly,   however.   Shelley   had   coine   into 

possession  of    what    lie   thoiii,'ht    iini|nestionalile   evi.'ence   of 

hi-  wife's  unfaithfnlness  to  him.  evidence  which  lu itinued 

to  l.elieve.  tlnin^li  it  wa>  later  modified  in  s<.nie  important 
particidars.  nntil  h-  died.  Conceinini;  its  actual  value  it  is 
dilh<-uh  if  not  iinp^  tu  iiroimunce.  Imt  there  can  he  n(» 

douht     of    Shelley's    pain  '    siu.-erily    in    relation   to    it. 

Neither    he    ii<;r    Mary    (In  hesitated    to  acceiit  what 

seemed  to  them  a  ju-tifyiuir  ,•,.,, dition  of  their  incseiit  love 
and.  indeed,  of  their  later  union.  Writing  to  .Southey  in 
1X20.  Sheiley  declares  liintself  *•  iniioceiil  of  dl.  either  done 
or  intended  ;  the  const-ipiences  you  alludo  to  ilnwed  m  no 
respect  from  me.  It  yon  were  my  friend,  I  couhl  tell  you 
a  history  that  would  make  you  oiku  your  eyes  ;  hut  I  shall 
certainly  never  make  the  jjuhlic  my  familiar  coniidant." 

When  Shelley,  ahont  .Inly  14.  sn^'^ested  to  Harriet  the 
dosirahillty  of  an  understood  separ:  tioii.  she  did  not  openly 
oppose  him.  thlnkint?  it  prohahle  that  his  re<;ar(l  for  INIary 

1  H.irrii't's  first  reference  to  Mmtv.  in  her  correspondence  with  Mrs. 
Nugent,  ll.is  piillielie  interest  :  "  Tliere  is  ;iiiotlier  (laii-liter  "f  hers. 
who  is  now  in  Scotlan.l.  S!,e  is  very  nuieli  like  her  mother,  whoso 
picture  hanps  up  in  hiH  (Coiiuin's)  study.  She  must  have  heen  a  most 
lovelv  \N(iniun.  Her  countenance  speaks  her  a  woman  who  would  daio 
to  think  and  act  for  lierself." 


Gi»lwin  Will 


/.V7/;<j/)fr/7o.v 

,1.1   slioitly  .-.'iis.-    an.l   thiil  I."'   ^v^ 


XXXlll 


uld   ii'tiirii  to 


tii.lc  of  comi.liaiicc  k: 


IV  I! 


1' 


,1  f,.r  liiT   iiiiitfi 


SlifU.'V  :i  wrotiu'  i">- 
ial  vv,  Ifa..'.  :ui.l   witli- 


,lri  \v  ui 


til  ;i  i'liliii'j,  I 


li.it  all  woul.l  li"  ^vi'll.  ai 


,1  that  llanift 


coiicun  III 


\v;is  nil 


M    till' 


i)iir*< 


ho  lia.l  ivM.lv.l  to  pmsi. 


That  1 


lit) 


AaU-u  intliissiii.posi 


tioii  inaili-  llanift 


.iiort' 


(r|  liVOU'^. 


l„il  l.oth  Slu-lU'V   ai 


.1   M 


;irv 


lo^s  only  the 
I    that 


hrl 


H'Vi 


thi-    ni'W  union  was 


to  I 


ifove 


he>.l  not   ni'i'i'ly 


Iv    for   ihi-iii  hilt 


fur  liiirri.'t  as  wi 
Slii'Hi'V   <'oii 


11   whose  '•  iiileitsls 


as  hi'  coiicfivt 


veil  tlit'iii, 


^laiilly   ctHisnlti 


1.     On   -luly  *^«.  l«ll'  ^^'''y 


(;,mKviii  ami    l*''>-''y 


HvssliL   S'..'ll.-y,  a.Moinpani.'. 


1   hy  Clara 


Jan 


(' 


aiiMiion 


it.  hfl 


Lon-hm  for  th'eC"....tiuent,  an.l  the  ni' 


xt 


,lav.  at  Calais,  the  poet  wrote  m 


his  j 


oiiiiia 


.1:  «'SuJilenly  the 


hroa.l  sun  ri»^'  < 


,vi-r  Kranci, 


Thf  toin 


that  followed  was  a 


of  fiinils  ami 
laste.l.  howev. 


hy  (lilU.'ultif 
T.  Shellev  am 


hrief  one,  .-ut  short  hy  lack 
;,;.'isin-  in   Knglan.l.    While  it 


1  Marv  ha. I  .>])portiinit\ 


,IV  to  reah/.e 


the   stren 


:tl 


1   an. 


1   virtue  of  tlu'ir  love,  i 


n  a 


time  of  physie 


ami  mental  stress. 


Spe 


din;^  hnt  a  few  day.s  i 


Paris,  they 


l'< 


occe. 


1,.,1  on   f..ot  (Mary   ri 


.11 


iiL'  a  . 


lonkev)   toCharenton. 


There  thev  rejilaee 


lth..i,"littlel.easthyastnr.lym.ile.an,l..n 


real 


■hini:  Troves  hoii-ht  an  open  carnat; 


Bv  these  means, 


after  many  annoyanee 


thev  :<t  l.Mi^Mh  arrive. 


am 


.1   at    Uriinnen 


)n    Lake    Lueerne 


1  at  Neuehatel, 
:„  route  Shelley  had 


wri 


tten  to  Harriet,  ur;,;in;4»'-r  torn. 


ot  them  in  Switzerland, 


in. 


.1   a>siuini 


lier  of  his  intention  to  renia 


in  her  friei 


d.    At 


Hiunneii   he  hc<,'an 


the  f 


ragmen 


,t  entille.l  The  .l.s.S'^s•.s(/^s, 


roinan 


tie  tale  of  s.mie  pow 


er. 


After  a  hrief  stay  here  an 


Lm-eriie,  the  travt 


■Hers  tnriie.l  honiewai 


.foil 


am 


1  the  Rhine 


The  beauty  of  the  hitter  river,  from  Mayenre 


.iwint:  the  ii. 
M: 


d  at 

Icuss 


to  Uonii,  f^reatly  impn 


<se. 


il  Shellev  an 


settin 


n-  of  A  lost  or.     Unite  id  am   was  i 


I  intlneneed  the  seenu^ 
I  Septemher  8, 


fac'ie. 


an 


lUce  attain  a 


il  London  o 

Durini'    th.'    remainder 


week  lat.'r, 


,f    the    veal 


Shell 


cv   am 


«n 


tY.re.l 


ser.o 


uslv    fi-om    the 


ant    of    income.     J 


(1   Mary 
iVlthonj^li 


Godwin  indig 


.lignaiAly  refused  to  condone  Shelley',  cour.e 


he 


.!)! 


1 


> 


xxxiv 


7.vy7.'o//r(;7';o.v 

frufly  a.r.'pt.Ml  inoncv  fiou.  hi>  <ca..t  pnrsc  .-UkI  ov.n  a>k..l 
for  liioiv     'n.tro  i.  uncon>nous  <liMinati.  in.ny  lurk.n-  n,  a 
j.assauv  r-uH-rvnin-  G.Mhvin  in  one  -.1  Shrlley-s  early  Ittor- 
t,.   mT-s    HitcliMHr:    -Hi'   rfinaius   uiicl.au-.'.l.     I    l.avo   ih 
soul-.'hiir.ng  alU'ration  U>  rcn.nl  nf  l,i>  •■haractor.  '     HaiTM-t. 
too.  uas  \o>\n'4  iKUi.nc..  an.l  trouMin-  l-th  Ma'lU'V  and  t!,e 
G.ulu  ins  with  iiHMvasi,.-a..n.an.ls.  On  NovcMulu-r  IK)  .>h- -.-ut 
birtl>  to  a  l.ov.  (M.arU-s   UvssliL..  ulu>.  with  lantho,  was  soor 
to  U.-oVA.  i\u-  Mihi-'t  «.f   ChancH.ry  lili-ation.     IVacork  wa. 
provhi-  him  rlt  au  c.M  frion.l  ;    Fanny  G.Mw.n  wa.   >cnrtly 
Uin.l;l>nl   iur  the   in..st  part  Shelhy   an.l    Mary   were  hi 
severely    alone   save    iur  the   e.-niiKiniun-hil.  of    Ilo--.    uho 
,.alle,l  often,  and  Jane  Clairniont    (Claire),  who  .hThned   to 
ivti    a  iionu,    (hnnivorous  rea.lin-  .sola.n-a  the  evil  tune.  -^  - 
Anaereon.  Colerhl-e.  Spenser.  lU'ron.  Browne  of    A'orwn-h. 
Glhl.on.  Go.Kvin,   etc.     Claire,  alert    an.l    olive-lnu.l.    otten 
ai>turhe.l  the  hunseh.,M  uith  her  f.-ars  an.l  .louhts  .•oneern- 
in-  the  s.ii.ernatnral.  an.l   th.'V  were   n..t    unreh.ve.l   to   -ee 
luT.lepart.  in  Mav.  ISlT..  for  a  stay  in  Lynniouth.    M.elley. 
for  his   part.ha.l   oth-.r  fears,   an.l   was   n..w   nn.vm-   fr..ni 
spot  .  ■   >pot    in    L..1.  l.in.  prohrti,    ;    himself    as    he    nn-ht 
a.  0-  •      ..le  vi'.ilanee  ..f  tl,o  hailiil's.    The  new  yar  hr.m-ht 
important  .-han-es.    Sir  lU-slu-  passe.l  away  on  Jannary  (. 
Mr.  Timothv   Slullev   lK,-.'ame   a   haroi.et   in   ins   stea.l.  an.l 
the  poel  snc-.'-ee.le.l  his  fath.r  as  heir-apparent  t.,  the  title  an.l 
a  ..reat  estaf.    He   went  down  t.)  Fiel.l   Pla.v.  hut  was   n..t 
^vcd.■ome.l.      Ihe    (,uesnon  of    entail   a-ain   came    up,    an.l 
thomdi  Shellev  deelined  to  chanjre  his  attitude,  he  was  wdl- 
i,„.-  to  s,  11  his'own  reversion.    Eventually  he  planned  to  .lis- 
jmse  of   his  Interest    in  a  small   part  ..f  the  pn.perty  f.u'  an 
annual  ine..m..  of  £10(10  during  the   joint   survival  of    his 
fath.-r  an.l  himself,  hut  Chancery   would   not  later  pern.it 
this  plan  to  he  reali/.e.l.    M.nn'y  was  a.lvanc.Ml   to   ni.'et   Ins 
nn.st  j.ressia-  nee.ls.  an.l   it   is  worthy  of   note  that    he  n.i- 
lue.lialidy    s.tth.l    l"'-'00    a    sear    upon    llirriel,  a   like    sum 
haviu'r  lifcn  centiniu'.l  hy  Mr.  W.sihrook. 


ISTllohi'VTloS 


XXXV 


Slu'lU'y" 


lieuUli  ha.l  .)f  l:ito  Ir'cohu-  seric'sly  hnpauT. 


and  was  not   iiiiiivuvf( 


(U-atli.    >'ai( 


I  l.v  ihi'  >li'>ck  (•()iisLMii,>nt    ui><>n   the 
taut,  hardlv   luoi'o  tliaii 


(•).  .if  Maiv"s   in>t    11 


a  fort  111: 


;ht  old, 


an 


I 


continued 


aliiMiatioM  o 


f  Godwin, 


whom    lie 


was 


aidiiii;    s 


lettiTs  very  pat i. mi 


teadily.    lie    l)oie   (Godwin's    l)ittor 
iinal  outlireak  of  feoli.ig  : 


tlv  save  for  one 


IjoUS 


'•  Do  not  talk  of  ,/:wv//'-'^«r,s-,s-  ai^ain  to  me.  lor  my  n  < 
i,.  „.vveln..  and  niv  ^all  vises  against  all  that  bears  the 
,„.,„ '.^  f, „,,.,.  when  I  think  of  wliat  I.  H.eir  benetaetur  and 
ardent  lover,  have  endured  of  enmity  and  eontempt  rom 
vol  an.l  from  all  mankind."  A  trip  of  several  days  dnra- 
L.   np  the  Thaines  Lo  Leehlade.  in  the  eompjuiy  of    Mary 

Pe.eo'k.  and  Charles  Clairmont,  Claire's  brother,  dnl  uundL 
to  restore  the  poet  to  health  an.l  t^ood  spirits.   On  his  return 
to    lii.lu.p.,nue   he   conceived    and    that    antnmn    wrote   the 
,„ovin,  nn^latory  poen,.  Al.s^or.  the  first  ot  Ins  really  snro 
and  vital  works,  published   the    following;    March.     1  eace- 
fnl  months  foUowe.l.  of  study  and  compo<lt^i"".  -hose  sun- 
shine was  nnule  the  brighter  bv  the  birth  of  ^\  lUnun,  Mary  s 
sec.md  chihl.,Ianuarv*-'4.  ISlC.    I'mt  (Jo.lwin's  attittule.  the 
coldness  of  others,  and   the   failure  of   the  lawyers   satis  ac- 
,.,il,  to  adjust  financial  matters.-he  was  a,a,n  depeiiden 
„,,on  his  father's  voluntary  advances,  -  led  She  ley  to  hoed 
the  invitati.m  of  a  voice  of  uhose  charms  be  conld  no   on^v 
W  i„.enMble.    It  was   Swit.erland-s  re.-all  of   bin,   that  Jib 
heard  and  ob^xe'l-    Bvron.  wlu.in  he  had  not  yet  met.  but 
^^■^■wllm.^CTaire  bad  become  only  too  well  acquainted,  was 
soon  to  arrive  in  Geneva,  and  the  infatuated   j^-'U  keeping; 
1,..  secret  from  Shelley  and  Mary,  asked  and  was  permitted 
^     to  become  one  .f  the  partv.    Early  in   May.  IMO,  the  tno 
with  little  William,  started  ai^ain  for  Paris.     I  hev  reacl-  \ 
Geneva  about  the   Uth.  and   shortly  alterwanl    l.yr-   -   -- 
peared.    The  two  poets,  tliou-b  associated   as  contempu..., 
lapostles  of   revolution,  were  vet  of  verv  dilYer-nt  tibres  - 

iJvion.  p. 1,  pa-n.nate.   iitf.llv    pm  po  -ve.  lik.-   an   alien 

binl    oaring     n.l   tbMT-^   ••'"-   ♦"    ^■^^'"' ^    ^klz.li^' 


xxxvi  INTRODUCTION 

luniiiious.  mild,  sinwulventiirlng.  sailin.,'  the  iipi)er  ether  of 
thou<,'lit  iind  h)ve  with  tense  hut  tireless  \viii|;s.    Eueh  '"iievv 
the  other  for  a  poet,  —  Siu-lley  h:is  drawn  the  two  portriiil-^ 
f(ir  n-.  in  Ji'li")i  mi'l  Mnlilulo.        ami  tlley.^lleut  ea<,'er  hours 
to-elhcr   and    with    I'oli.lori,    li    i^n's    yoiiii^'    An-lo-!:)diaii 
])l:y>ician,  (•nnsin;j;   ah,)at    the  lak.^.  or  exi)loriiii,'  ii       ''oii-s. 
During  tiiis  time    liyron    wrote    somi'    of    tlie    ia-st  >taii/.as 
of  his   C /(!/'/<;  J/nrul,/,   Slalley  conceived   his  M<nif  lUmic 
and   Hilinn   to  IntelhHuid   Ikantii.   an.l   Mary   hegan   her 
famous  romance. /'/v/z/Arz/.s^'i'//.  inspired   hy  a  gliostly  con- 
versation   between    the    j.oets    and    Polidori.      The    Shelley 
grmij.  hail  meanwhile  secured  a  cottage  near  Coligny,  and 
IJyrun  was  living  at  the  Villa  Diodati.    While  they  cinMim- 
navigated  the  lake.    Uyrun  ])roduced  UU  J'risn/ier  of  C/iil- 
lon   and  Shelley  stored  up  countless  memories  of  joy   and 
beautv.    After  a  visit  of  high  emotion  to  Chamouni.  Slielley 
and  Mary  receive<l  a  rather  nudaiicholy  letter  from   Fanny 
Godwin,   and    a    month    later   left   Geneva   for    Versailles, 
Havre,  and  Portsmoutii. 

The  year  IS  10  was  a    fatal  one  for  several   of   Shelley's 
friemls  and  connections.    Tiie  ch-ath  of  Sir  Bysshe  was  fol- 
lowed during  the  autumn   hy  those  of   Fanny  Godwin   an.l 
Harriet   Shelley,  eaidi  of   tliese  women   dying    hy  her  own 
haml.    Fannv.  who  had  heen  growing  of  late  more  and  more 
dejected,  feeliuL,  the  unUindnessof  her  stepmoliier   ind  other 
relatives,  an.l  deprived  of  the  immediate  counsel  of  Shelley 
and  Mary,  .leci.led  that  she  was  a  useless  cund)erer  of  the 
gr.)und,  and  t.)..k  laudanum  at  Swansea.  Octoher  10.   She 
liad   written  oidv  a   week  earlier  an    atfectionate  letter  to 
Marys  wlm  with  Shelley  was  now  staying  at  Bath,  in  which 
all  her  thoughts  nnselfishly  went  out  to  the  welfare  of  God- 
win  and   the  Shell.'ys.    Tiiese  wei'e   her  sincere  mourners. 
•Our  f.M'lIngs  are  less  tumultticus  than  dee])."  wrote  G.xhvin 
to   Marv:   and    she  t.>  Shelley,  who  went  to  Swatisca  sutVer- 
in-  great  anguisli  .d'  spirit:    '-It   she   had  lived  until  tliis 
moment,  she  would  have  been  saved,  for  my  house  would 


ISTUODl'CTION 


xxxvu 


1        fT-liPv"    Two  months  later 
t,en  have  been  a  proper  -^  ^l ^  '^  1^;         ,i„e  River,  after 
^''''>-^>'''*^^^"tri^     ^^^'ehaLvenas 
,  .Usap,H"avan.-e  of  ^^'^  '^     ,,  .^,,  „„.,;,„,.  a.ul  now.  wUU 

an.ionsly.thathen.,laveu.      ^>       - 

father  a.ul  si>ter  .n.eve.l  ^^^^^  ^     j  ^  .„^,,,.  ,,,e   t.uk    the 
unwllhn,  h.n,ertotovwanlh.^uM    nu^^.^^^^^^^^^^_^^^^^^^^         . 

,,„naiy,  she  felt  at  la  .  ^^^^^^    l,enetieent  apph- 

soeial  views  were  not  eapaW    <^  .naerstoo.l  it.  seen.ea 

cation  to  concrete  cases.    L.  ve,  a.  ,.,„i„,,H.e.    Yet 

her  aeath  was  tar  les.  the  spe  U  ^^  .^^   ^^^^.  ^^^^.^^ 

^^^-^^'^•'r^'     ;r;:    '---^- l   ren.rse.    we  n.ay 

he  cannot  he  saul  to  have     ^^i^_  ^^^  ^^^ .^^^,^,,^^^1  he^inumL^s  of 

hvit'tly  conipare,  m  pa»"  ,.•       -  j^^.  untimely 

Shelley  with  those  of  h.s  «>-;':;;        ^^,  .,,,,  Harriet's. 
I        closing  of  the  waters  ov..Sl^^^^^^^^^^ 

;         We  mn^t  pass  rapuUy  o^e^the  ^^^^^^^^^1^  ^^^  ^^^^^   trienaslnps, 
ent  events  ..f  this  ^^^T^  ^^  ,^,.„,,,u,  literary  encour- 

^••'^^''^  7 Tn:^     y  t  r  >    H.;.  the  reconciliation  of 
ac^ement  of  hhelley  l.J    l^  V.  ,,,,,nonv  ..f  marriage 

Ooawin  to  the  poet^  ana  tl.  *   ^         .^,.^  ^^..^ch,  London, 
WtweenSlK     -y  and  Ma.j  at  M.  . 

DtM-emher  30.  ,  Charles  Bvsshe.  had 

,.,„.  c»,o  „f  w»  -i.-.w-"-  '»■■■';',,„ ;„uu...i  ... 

„„,,iet  Uy  U,.-.v  (a.l,....  «vl,..  ";;;;,.,„..„!.,,  ,,y  .We 

of  H»n.i..  I  the  »;•";»   ;'\;^"      ,,„,,,■.  ,„,l,rin«.,.B  .n,l 

education  ;   while   ftlieuey  f. 


.■il 


XXXVIII 


I.\Ti;()I)[T-[oy 


yns.,ust,,..,I,nl,.nnn.   Hani,.,.  :„„1  ,l,n,  I,,  ha.l  si„..Mlnt 
''''"'";";':•   "— ^li-     Ml.In.ntn.n.   l,i,„   .nnvlv  on  ....- 


'""!'■'     Ill''    'MM'    U, -IS,!, ,,.,■, I, .(I 


;;illi>!    l>..th  p;iili,.s.    r,,,,,l 


'''■-•--U''-^-nMlH.<.,.,.,Wyor,l,..,.l,H,l,..,,,,,,,,,,,,s,,^ 

S   ell...  I<..,,,v  ,..,,  ,,,,    inins,i....,„,e,j,.,„n.enM.„t,n.o: 

'n''l.-vf.n..att,tn,!.  ,!n...,.,I.o„t   ,1,..  ,,.o,......li„.s.     1)„  ;„  , 

^    -•'-■•''■-•    Man.  ui,,.n,.,,  Hum  Wniia,..:!; 


tlir  iiK.st    part  rcsi,!,.nt  at   .AFar 


ow  oil   til,.  'I'liaincs.     II,. fore 


Ho.^;..S..uU,..ho.,....a,.eaHo..f..^^ 

At.M.,  i,.u  l''-iH.„t  niorc.  tl.ni  a  yi.ar  of  In.sv  au  W.lnn 

;;;:';: '•"^•7""'-;"—  as. ,.„...  he  p..o.i,....,,a^^ 

t    ..,Knnpin..,sa,M,.o..„.s.so,.K.,....„onst,.anNinostoJ.J 

X.  .  ^;../  ^.M..,_  af,.nvanl    T/.  L'eroit   ./■/./,.;,!: 
a    St  rnn^-   an,I   ,.Io,p,ent   pioplu...:    "f    tlie   triumph   of    the 
^'.n    <>*     ...  an,l  lil...,.ali,y.    -  I  Ikivo  attenipt.l. '  ho  ..o^ 
M-M.sh...    •■inthopi.o.n.ssof    „.,   ,,,,H.    ,.   .,,,,^ 
to  the  eo.nnion   ..h.nienta.y  emotions  of  ,1„.   1 ,  ' 


'1^   "f  the   luiMian    heart 
|^...ua.,p,,,u,sthes,o,.yofvioleneean,|,vvol.,,ion.iti 
.H.v.li,y„.ae,.p,et.n..offnen.i.,npa,:,|,.,v..andnat,,,. 

ilins.  \\,lha,n    Baxter,  an.l    Horaee  Smith,  i„.si,les  Claire 
-.      he     ,,len,.u..ome,..C'ia,.aAlh..,.a.,a,,h,e..ofHv. 
A;tnen,lan,l    1-1|-.  the  po...  ..f  Ma.h.u   kneu-  and  love.l 
nni.     (,nSep,e,nl,e..li.lS17.aft..Ml,eeonipletio„of/V:ri 
--V..^ath„.dchiiaua.honitoSl.lley    naMary,wh    a 


iNTnonrcTTox 


XXXIX 


thov  nanu'd  Clara  Kvciiiia.  (J.i.hviirs  wfll-knowii  iinvcl. 
M,i iKlfrillr.  apiicarcil  during,'  NovrmUrr.  and  Slicll.'v  <'<)r- 
ic-ixiiidrd  freely  willi  its  aiitlioras  licith  a.liiiii'ini;  crilic  and 
I'lirvc-djH'iier. 

••  1  tliiiils  we  i>ii'4!il  to  iui  ti)  Italy.'  ui'otc  I'eslle-;-;  Shelley 
t'l  .Marv  late  in  iSlT.ai'ter  nuieli  eaiiu  n!  diseussinn  nt  ways 
and  means.  Sludley's  t'ailin-  health,  medical  advice.  Mary's 
(e.vn  ineliiialion,  and  tiie  desire  to  help  Claire  toward  an 
n!iiler>tandini,^  with  Hyron,  all  cuiisiiired  to  this  end.  Marcli 
VJ,  ISIS,  saw  the  travellers  once  a;;ain  —  for  Shelley  now 
the  last  time — leavim;  the  ancient  clitVs  of  D'ver  for  Calais. 
Had  the  poet  known  that  he  was  to  see  his  native  land  no 
\\\<>\\\  his  heart  would  have  i^^one  out  t.)  her  in  a  hi,ij;li  son<r 
of  farewell,  for  di'spite  his  jjassionate  desiiv  to  eoni])ass  the 
reform  of  nr.iny  of  her  laws  and  iiistitntiosis.  his  life  and 
letters  at  manv  points  all'ectionately  attest  the  stren[,nli  of 
his  love  for  p^ni;land. 

The  four  closini,'  years  of  Slu  .ley's  hrief  life  were  the 
hajipiest  and  most  productive.  Indeed,  had  these  heen 
denied  him,  his  works  would  hardly  have  won  large  place 
in  tjie  memories  and  alVections  of  men.  Animation  was  iiis, 
hiij,dit  and  hreatliless  ;  power  was  his,  earnest  and  unmis- 
takahle  ;  hut  time  and  i)lace  were  yet  to  hiin<4  their  calm 
and  their  counsel  to  his  too  ai,nfated  spirit.  What  the  clear 
sunny  skies  of  Italy  hail  done  for  Chaucer  and  Alilton,  what 
they  were  to  reveal  to  HrowniiiLC  and  liis  lyric  love,  they 
were  now  ahout  to  <;ive  to  Shelley  in  ahundant  measure, 
and  thereaftei  to  keep  protective  watch  above  his  clover- 
clustered  Roman  orave. 

The  passat^^e  of  the  A1|)S  was  safely  achieved,  and  tlie 
tir.vellers  reached  Milan,  April  4.  Thence  Shelley  and 
IMary  ])roceeded  to  the  Lake  of  Como.  hut.  disappninied  hy 
tiieirc()ntinue(l  failure  to  find  a  suitable  abode,  they  ret\irned 
■o  Milan,  shortly  gathered  their  little  flock  together,  and 
pressed  on  to  Pisa  and  Leghorn,  not,  liow(!ver.  liefore  Claire 
liad  satisfied  the  demand  Byron  made  from  Venice  that  she 


i 


'4. 


3 

Si 


.  1  t 


:  1 


«:::''i:lvt:';;:'";;:,;";, i'r"':^';-AT,„„„.™ 

of  Claire,  wl.o.n  Sln-H.-vat  len   t         '  '"'';"'"'''  ■'"•"""^^ 

«^o  Hvn.n  an,l  Allo.ra     PI        7  ■'"■"  "J*''^"""'  to  Venieoto 

ilv.  who  r..,.nv..,I  fh  ■  „•.•  '  f      '•""sul-genen.r.s  fa,„. 

■    J'T  alone  vi.i,       ,      ,:* ^    7'^ "';'    .^'^^^  ''-Pi^^lity.   S,.,. 

si.-iievjl;;' r  't- r'r;i  "rr'^:^^^-' ■- '"-i  ^- 
o,  .;:r::;",r "'  -"■■■ ^  ""■ «".—  Hm  s ;;: 

..^-..a.enJ:'';;:;,,^:-:::--,,;:™^.;;™..... 

."■■«■.-.......  ..1 -ti,,:.,, u-wLJ  ,;:'"'-••■•■:"' 

>■«,„■„  ,„  K„„  „,„,   t,,„  ,,,.,,  .live;,' fAl" .     ,,""■  "  '"'" 


I.\TU(>!>l(Tli>.\ 


xli 


sot  '^nutluvavd  for  Nai.los.    \hvv.  n..twitl,stnn.lin-  liis  hope 
„f  imi'i'-vi'm.'nl.  a  <U'.'l.  <!c.irrti..n,  Imtli  pliv^ical  aiul  spint- 
„;,KM>i/..Ml  upon  Sl.cllcy,  an  almost  Han.let-liki' s.-iisc  of  isola- 
tion, troin  wli  id  i  1h' <  11(1  not  w.-ll  ivc. v. t  until  tin- <arly  spring. 
It  was  now  resolved   to  vi>it    Unnie.  when"  they   liad  spent 
l)Ut  a  week  '-n  matr  to  Naples,  and  the  coinplotion  uf  tlu'ir 
lirst  year  in  Italy  was  si-nali/e.l  l.y  tlie  entranee  of  the  pil- 
..rin.s  i.ito   the    Eternal    City.    They  foun.l    themselves    now 
somewhat  less  lonely;   acpiaintanee.s  ealle.l ;   steady  readin- 
went  on  ;    and    interested   visits  were   paid   to   the   Vatican. 
Villa  Uor-rhese.  I'antheon.  and  Capitol.    In   the   remote  and 
solitary  nmn.enls  of   his    fre.pnnt   walks  .ihoiit    the  ruins  of 
the   Haths  of  Caracalla.  Shelley  almost  completed  his  great 
lyrical  drama.   Pronieth>'us    riihonm/,   among  at  once   the 
g<Mitlest  and  proudest  vindi.-ations  of  the  human  spirit.    He 
felt  his  in.'\itahle  way  to  the  symholic  heart  of   this  nohle 
mvth,  as  imagined   and  made   vital    not  only  hv  J'><'hvlu8 
and   others,  hut   hy  the  high  instinct  of  man  he  had  himself 
developed.      Here   Shelley's    ,.rime  idea    of    the    self-saving   • 
and    self-justifying  l)ower  of     Love   reaches  its  surest  and 
most  elevated  expression. 

A  long  reaction  and   an  anticipation  of  evil  to  come  led 
the  poet'to  long  again  for  at  least  a  hrief  visit  to  England, 
'•out    of  pure    weakness    of    heart."     The    temperamental 
harometeri.rove.l  true.    On  June  7  William,  the  most  f.m.Uy 
cherished  of  the  children,  passed  away.    Tlie  En  .lish    hury- 
ing-ground.  hard-hy  the  I'orta  San  Paolo,  received  the  little 
hodv.  and  Shelley  an-l  Mary  were  left  .lesolate  in.leed.   The 
nnith'er-s  melancholy,  in  truth,  hecame  s.)  intense  that  Slielley 
de.ided  upon  Le-horn  and   Mrs.   (iishorne  as  the  place  and 
person  most  suited  to  her  at  the  moment,  aiul  rented.  a.'c<u-.I- 
ingly.  the  Villa  Valsovano  there.    He  himself  had  urged  his 
ihMii.tful  steps  throimh  many  a  glo.)m,  and  felt  for  the  thric- 
hereaved  mother  no  less  than   he  felt  with   her.    '•  Wo  must 
all  weep  on  these  occasions,"  wrote   Leigh    Hunt  to  Mary. 
"  and  it  is  hotter  for  the  kindly  fountaiii.s  within  us  that  we 


il 


i-l 


;  I 


Xill 


isinohi  <i  i().\ 


sliniil.I.      .M 


••alliicsf    :iii,|    iinist    air 


'V  ynl,    U-,.,.,,  ,,„i.tly.    l.Ut    nut    Io„;r;    ; ,„,,,^.   „, 

-inrit   tliat  conies  out  ol    tli 


'■(•tMiiat( 


<'<'iit(in|il.ii!iiii  ot    -Teat    t) 


llKwt   1,1,  s.,.  I   l,,.,,i,l 


'i'i,'-;->.  .'111,1    ill,.    |,,v,.  ,,f    ;,ll 


""■  .^J  •■11. 'v  rca.I  .•111.1  tl„,i|Ml 


l'"ii  v. Ml.-    \V],..M  Marv  uoul 


:i\'  li! 


ii  I'c  iiiiich 


t'Vi-i.  a.lvcii 


tiiriiiL^r  tliroiit,^!,   Daiit...   | 


''  :i-.  r;i)M(l!\    am! 


IS  |.M'Trl\' 


and  nraisin  ■  t!i,.  S' 


xiccacci,,.  ami    ("alder 


"M. 


'aiiisli  (li-i:nati  I  will 


tluiMaMM.     \„,v      tr.n.    1„-    finisl|,.,l 
•  Iraina.  Th 


1  <lis('r,mnritiM!' 


•  •11- 


llls     (IWII      ,1 


I'  ■    rii 


rcaiiiip'  ail 


'■'.  <'(iiic(  ivi'd  liiurc  tl 

:\is.  at  I.,.-| 


'•'piv    sfiriiii 


i.'iii  a 


year  I'dorr.  at 


ttr 


)>'<>(•(!   portrait   ot   iJ,  atric 

I  lli.s   IHudllcti,,!!.    touch,.,! 

iiiLT  and  of  diainatic  •■  I 

liilldlT.s   ll,,.   |,,,|.l,  

<'!'  luitf  and 


.^■iii>ni.  and  vicwinj^r  (iuid 
ill  tl"'  Cnlomia  I'alacu  at  1 


"   S     >I|I|- 


inllli' 


•  IISlllC: 


as  it    IS  With  vv( 


the  d 


illCS^t's    of 


pliras- 


raiiialist  soiiictiiiit 


'>y'tcoiii|,ai:il.I(.,  asastiidv  in  tl 


villan 


If  sjiirlt 


iiiiil     IJrouii 

I'>falii(.|'  luiiii  the  li-iaii 

'J'lic  liill 


It  coiitaitis  tl 


y.  -Illy  uuh   ,ShaU..s,u.an.-s  Un-hanl  HI 

'li'l'lr.;     „|,!1,.     C"(M'doli;:. 


I  act    is  ),v  t;i|.   tl 


II'  ■■  ticnu.ndoiis  (.n.l. 


LTicat  Women  in   J.;,, 
iiiovf  |Hi\vcrfiil,   not 


iiilMlia,    ai:(, 

.lisli     J)Octl\-, 


"lll\-    Ir.cail- 


lere  a  ni-h  untcltciT.,!  \vi 


lilt  liccaiisc  Slhl 


''V  l•al^ 


rani'c. 


ii;,;'   111  soul  crit 


"■'^'11   and   dramatic 


In  Fl( 


Shell 


(■V 


iiil:  andstatiiarv 


it'iiff.wJa.i,.  the  autumn  of  ISl'Jfound  tli 
iHM.tmany  .lays  vJMii,,:;  tlH.j^reat-allenesuf 


tiiiMii,di  '.vith  i 


'■III  settled, 


Jiaint- 


iHTcasi 


"oveinlK 


v\ 


!•  1-;i  last  child 


oifiK'c.  ulu.  survived  l.otli  his  father  aii.l 
J"'>ite.l  tiie  iKiiouctcy.     'i'he   ,.revailin.r  d 


'i.iT  pliysical  unrest.   On 
1^  I'lirn  to  him.  christened  P, 

iiiotli(.|..  ami  it 


ert'i 


l.tnd.  wit 


this  time  tli- 


vv-hich  .Shellev  deep] 


scoiitent    ill    Kiic- 


y  syiiijiatiiized 


UlIlL,^    of    his   Sntvjs  lUld   /*, 


•fasioiied  at 


fi 


'/  /'J/i;//a/H/.  and  his  JLisunc  of' J 


n    jioiso    hut    revohilioi 


'Sn/i 


/n'ra/    r 


tic.-itise.  J    /'//, 

of   Kuiijii.Ies'   T.';r   c,/,./, 


act    of 


lie    /  ri)i//i 


tl, 


'in>  j.r  iJir  Me,i 

••iikI    a    Ihoii-htful 

■'«•     A  translation 

'""    of  an   additijiial 


larv    imiiiil 


't   U>'t: 


'/>■■<.    the    ci.,.ai 


to  tl 


'  ''S.   and    tilt 


1    tl 


'•""athiii-    of    the    ^,,1 


ynr  nu-antat.on  to  the  spirit  of  tl,e  West  Wind,  all   he] 


ilol  I  V 


1.-  ^ncit  creative  year.    It 


lUI."" 


i.s  iiileieslin-  to  note  the  luval 


i 

1 


I.\Ti:<)l)i(Tl()\  xllii 

liniiiaii  intcri'st  SIicllcv  tnnk  diiriii  ,^  this  winter  in  Ills  fiiciiil 
Krvilrv's  |iriii.ctcil  ^tc;uii>lii]i.  an  intiTist  lliat  ilid  not  lii'si- 

t;itr  til  provide  ill-tn-lie-v]i;ireil    e\    lor    tile  advancement 

dl'  what  was  almost  a  t'ore(h)omeil  failure.    The  extreme  ccdd 
(,f  eaiK   .laniiai),    JS'-'H,  diove  him  at  l-n-tli  t^   l'i>a.  whef.' 
nio-t  n|'  hi>  time  was  theneel'oi-tli  to  he  -pent.    A  -mail  t;ion|) 
ot'  trienils  eheered   Shelley  and   Mary  here.   diiiinLT    the    tVw 
intervals  not  '^^iven  over  to  study  ;iiid  coiniiosli  inn.  —  Iriends 
not    iinwflcome,   >ince    the    (ii-hornes   and    Ileiii-y     IJevelev 
were  now  leavini;  tor  Kn-laud.     'I'hoii-h    the    pott's    heallli 
was  lopoiidinL;    I'avoiirahly  to   tlu'    ehaie^e  ol'   elimale.  (.iod- 
w  ill's  nioiKitonous  emharrassmi  iits  and  demands  preyed  upon 
jiis  -pirits.  and    he   was  ohli^fed    to    protect    Mary  irom    lull 
knowledge  of  her  father's  rapacity.   Tlieri'  wci'e  other  >oiirces 
of    perplexity  and    even    aii'j,ir    that    -reatly    di-tiirhe<l    tlio 
Sludlevs   at    this  lime.  — a    '^mms-Iv    iiiilalr    attacl<    upon    th« 
iioet  in  the  (Jici r''c! ij  /I'l-inr.  and  a  -candal  spiead  ahr.iad 
hv  :i  vicious    Ncrvaiit  wliicli    it    took  some   lime  to  (duck  and 
refute.     With  the   ailvent  of   midsummer   the   iieat    'j,rc\v  so 
intense  that  ;i  move  was  made   to  tlie   ]>rotVered   home   of 
till'  ahsent  (lishornes,  Casa  Kicci.  in    Le^honi.  wiiero —  fid- 
lowiiiL,'  the    I'isan   lyric.    The   C/oinl  —  tlie    (hlr  fo  a  Slaj- 
hirk   was   written.    l*rohahly   the   music    of    the    Spenserian 
Alexandrines,   for   he   iiad  h)ni,^  hived   tlie    Fnrrhi   Qui'p.ue, 
rani;  in  Slielh  y"s  ears  as  he  penned  tliis  exuUin;;  yet  vefrret- 
fiil    crv.    Anioii'4   tlie   other    poems   of    iSL'O   are   the  Lftti'i' 
ti>    Muri'i    Cis'ionii'.    Thr   Si-nsiticr    Plmit.    The   ]l'ifr/i    of 
Atl'i^i.    lliiiiii)    ii)    Mercin-ij,    Uile   to   L'lhci'tij.    and    Oilf    i<^ 
y.iji/fs.     l>v  Au-tist  the  heat  was   unhearahle.  and  another 
chani;e  was  made  to  the    Haths  of  San    Giuliano  di   Pisa. 
Shelley's    interest    in    Kurojiean    jiolitlcal    conditions    was 
acute,   and   lie  wat(died   with  keen  solicitude  the  course  of 
the  revolutions  in  Spain  and  Naples,  greatly  rcj:rettin<r  the 
eventual    success    of    the    Austri.ans   in   restoriuL;'   th(>    false 
Neaiiolitaii    kiny;.      During;    the    early  months  of   IS'il    he 
ui.Miilit   :ind    found    social   reinforcement  of   his  view's.     The 


I    H 


m 


n 


■I 

i! 


xliv 


T\Tl:()I)l-f'TlO.V 


(;i>lM.rnrs  wriv  Ka.k.  tl.oi.-li  a  liv.lv  iMlMiiHl..i-taM.liMu  prc- 
V(-iitf(|   an    cailv    iviwwiA    ui   .,1.1   li,,  ;    a.i.l   'I'lDnias    .M,..i- 
wiii.  fJM.    p.i.i's    ,.,.nsii,    ati.l    f,.rm.T   NclM,nl,iiat(".   lia.l    toiiii.l 
Ills   nut    t  M,  u..l..,,MH'  uav  t.,  I'isa.     ( )v,r  against    th.'s.-  «as 
Ihr    liiirr    inl.^lli-rn,.,.   an. I    .xall.'.i    snirit    ..I    tl,,.    (',,v,-k  jia- 
tiii.l.  Alixan.l.T  .Mavin.M.nlat.,,  t..  uhnin  Sli,l|..v's  pioplifti,. 
Wiania.    //r/A/.v.    wa.    ait.Tuai-.l    ,I..,lirat.Ml  ;    thV    fin.,ss,,.    „f 
Fr.m. •,■>(•<,  I'a.vlii.ini.  a  l'i>an  a.M.l..mlciai; ;  the  ......l-nalniv.l 

va|M,Iitv  „r  C.unl  'I'aalV..;    tl,..  ,>ki!l„l  in,,  .-uvivati.Mis  .,f    the 

fain..iiN  Soii.vi;   an.l  th.-  path.-ti.'  .luian. f  1  !„.  ( '..ntc^sina 

Kmilia  Viviani.  I,fl,.v,-(I  alike  l.y  Slnll.T.  Maiv,  an.lClaire. 
C.Muleii.ne.l,  Willi  Iht  sIsI.t.  t..  the  strict  s.^luMon  of  a  coii- 
vnt  lit,,  hy  ;i  j,.;,l.,iis  >t..i .In .it h(T  un.l  ail    in.IltVeiviit  father. 
Kmilia  was  in  evil  eas...  an.l   this,  with  h.r  ex.,ni>ite   i.,veli- 
iie,-.  s..  wr,.u-ht   n|H,n  SlH.ll,.y's  iina-inali..ii  that   he  s.,uoht 
'■nntiniiaily  t..  .l.-liv...    '  ,,•    r,„„,    th,.    In|.,ie,.an..,.   h..  ha.fso 
c.tt,.ns....m-e.l  „f  „h|.     li,.  |„.,,„ne  h.-'  ••  ra n>  n-of^f/o ''  nud 
.Alary  her -dearest,  sister.-    The   profoiin.l   thoii-h   jiassin^r 
inlh.enci  exerte.l  ..p..n   .Sh..lley  hy  her  eharac-ter  and  situ- 
atinti  is  a],i.ar(.nt   in   his  /■.'/'l/tsifr/in/inn.    "  It  ks."  |,e  wr.ite 
U>  (iishorne.  after  many   m..nti.s.  ••  an    i(l..ali/.e.l   history  „f 
my  life  ami  fe,.lin,^rs.     J    think  o.n.    is   always    in  love  with 
s..rnethin-  or  other  ;  the  error  — an.l  I  ....nfc'ss  it  is  not  easy 
for  .spirits  cased  in  ilesii  ami  hlij.nl  to  avoid  it  —  consists  ili 
seeking  in  a  mortal  imaj;,.  the  likeness  of  what   is,  perh.aps, 
eternal/'     The   "isle   iin.ler   I.,niau   skies,"  an   idea  which' 
lia.l    so  stron.^  a  Ih.ld    np.m   Sli,.ll,.y's   fan-.y,'   ns   „jM,n   the 
youthfnl    I'.r..wnin'.'s.-h..re  achi..v,.<  its    ri.^'ht    p<.,.tic  value. 
Kmilia   married   at    last    a   Sinn,,,.    Hiondi.  and   live.l  h.it   a 
brief  an.,  checkered  life.     It  was  littin-  though  almost  acci- 

'  Cf.  letter  of  An-nst.  ISl'1.  to  Mary  :    '•  Mv  j^^r.-af^st  content  xvonl.l 
be  ntt-ilv  to  .l..s,.rt  alii, nni.-in  society.    I    u,.nl,l   n.fire   with   you    an.l 
o.u'  clnl.l  to  a  soJiraiv  isl,..„l   in   tl,..  s..;,  an.l   l,„il,l  a  boat,  -uul  sl.nc 
ni._on   n,v  >..„vat  the   floo.l^at..s  of  the  world."     VL  also  I'rometheus 
1\  .  IV.  2iill.  L(ll.  ' 

^  Cf.  I'ippa  I'assts.  ii,  ;ii4-;;L'T. 


\ 


lyrnonccTioy 


xlv 


< 


.l.iitivl  that  at  tliis  time  Slidli-y  sliouM  put  into  critic:!!  fnrm 
1,1s  UVVM  liulil.-  tlhi.iy  nf  \u„[\\.  puLli-licd  aft.r  lu>  <lc:itl,. 

S.K.ii  iiitiT  Ihc  .l.p.irtmc  nt  ('!:iiiv.  \s!h.u:i-  imw  rn-.i-cil 
ii,  luiuiinu'  cnt.iiii  youh^  Kluii-nliiMs.  lliciv  arrive!  m  Pi>a 
fiiriuis  „t  M.auiii.  i.iciit.naht  K.l\v;,nl  Kllil<cr  Wiillai.is 
;,,h1  his  wile  .lane.  '111.'  ShrllcvN  l'"th  lni>K;iti.!  an. I  wife, 
were  imii'li  plcascl  with  t'  iicwcoiiicrs.  wIk.  in  heir  tiini 
attachc.l  llitMu.sdvi's  with  >yiii|.atiiy  aiul  iin.h'istaii.liiiLC  to 
tlirir  tVll..w-cxih-s.  Witli  WilhaiiiH  and  It^^vrlcy  the  pc't 
uuald  sail  tlic  Ain.)  i-i  a  lii^lil  Artlnman  >hallo|.that  on  on* 
cxcitini,'  i)cca>i()n  sud.h-nly  ovciM't,  nearly  ending  Sliolh-y, 
tile  n..n-swinuner.  then  and  tlu're.  Nulw  ith,.tandin<;  tiiis 
mishap  his  love  fur  ntnitical  excursions  L;rew  into  a  pa-ion, 
nearly  everv  day  found  him  on  the  water,  and  on  May  4, 
he  even  undertook  a  venturesome  excursion  with  Keveley 
from  the  mouth  ()f  ihe  Arm.  lo  Le<;horn.  In  San  Giuliano 
the  case  was  notdilVerent.  and  it  was  here,  indeed,  that  The 
llnnf  nil  fill-  Srrrh!'>  was  horn.  Here  also  was  produced 
the  last  of  SlieUey"s  completed  major  poems,  A</(>ii(iii,  writ- 
ten in  memory  of  Joim  Keats. 

UponheariiiLJuf  Keats'rt  illness  and  of  his  arrival  in  Italy, 
Shelley  ha.l  urt,'ed  him  to  accept  the  invilallon  to  IMsa  he 
had  previously  extended,  hut  i)oor  Keats  was  already  struf^- 
i^lint;  with  death,  and  yielded  himself  at  Rome.  Fehruary 
L'.'i  18*21.  Shelley  received  the  news  some  weeks  later, 
ju'ohahly  in  a  letteV  fn-n.  Ent;la!<d.  and  he-an  almost  imme- 
diately to  hrood  his  ele^y.  He  had  not  known  Keats  well, 
had  variously  estimated  his  work,  and  had  scarcely  sympa- 
thi/.ed  with  his  consumini;  passion  for  his  art.  Indeed,  he  had 
written  Keats  an  earnest  word  concerning,'  his  own  free- 
dom from  "  system  and  mannerism,"  instancin-;  the  Fro- 
»ni/ict(S  and  T//';  Cenr.i  Over-re-ularity  he  had  sou-ht  to 
avoid.  •'  I  wish  those  who  excel  me  in  L,'enius  would  j.ursuo 
the  same  plan."  And  Keats  had  ^rood-humonredly  replied  : 
"  An  artist  must  serve  Mammon  ;  he  nmst  have  '  self-con- 
centralion  '  —  seltislmess,  perhaps.    You,  I  am  sure,  will  for- 


■  •■ ' 

i 

^  t 

t 


!i 


•'^'^'  IXTL'oni-fTloX 

?iv-.n,.   f..rMM....nIyr..M,;irkin,.   ,|,,„   ,  „„    ,„1,1.,   ,„,!,  ,.„,, 

".':'"""""""-^''    '""•     '-■    -•""■'•    "'    :."    :,r,i   t.    :,n,|    |,.:„1    ,.;„,v 
'•'••    -'•    vunr    .,.i,j,.,,    uMl,    ,„,..■     Sh,.l|,.v,li,|    ,„„    ,„,rl,      ,1- 

"'"  '";"';:■•'  "''  ••"■:-,.v,„i,.„t  ^.., .'•  i,,.  ,i„.,,,.,/,.;,. 

r'"""""'     '•■•"-  'l-"^;li    l-t.ul,.,|    t..   „n,|,.,.Ma,Mll,i,n.  ai„l    „ 
.^M,:.,U.r.,„.  h..,..  ,,„■..,,, 1k„    .li..u,.p,...K.l,.....,..,.  .,■„,.. 

7':"'""," '■"'••  —  -:.!    th,.,o,.l,.„.lv:.r,.us,.,| ,,. 

"'   ";7'"--''"l-'   'in.laH ■•unl„„_...,„ „„,.„.. 

l-....l.:,.VHn..,„.,ll...li, H.n,;,,,:,^...     I,  ..,,,.,1.  ,1...  .l..,.ps 

;;;';■;'!'•/'■'■  '--•^•^'■•■^i-ii...to,.  .n..,,,,.;, ,,„.,.,• 

•'7  "',";'"!•    ••'-■'•>l--.ll.v-un .-  un...   Sl...l|,.v 

V.Tc  i.MiM  tu  an  iimiinitalilv  uf  „l,li\  i,„i.•• 
A  (.,.,-  :,   H  vi,,^  vIm,   to  Kl.,..,,,-...  I,„„.,.l„.„,i,„„„   l,,,,,i^ 
""•onu-e  Smuh.  uho  ua>  .l..S.,Hlin,  hiu.  a^vainM  ,.alu,nni,.s 

'"'";'7"''"  "I""'  ""■  I'i'ai..,!  >... ,ii,,.„io„  of  <,>..,,,  ,/„/; 

;'''':''••••■''''■''• '•-■''•-il^^  to  read.  Italy.  SlK.lh.v  iounu.v..,i 

-.xu.ava,a.,.,ha,,    l.,.l,„.„  in la.,,  .f   not   in  niti  1,.. 

'  ^'"  ^'""-^-  .'^-'  '"•  1^--'  "'  H.v-u's  iH.Hi.iv  in  failin. 
'•-IT''-^  -n,l.,.,l  anaally  n,in^  ^  .vpoH.  a.aiusl  Sl...i: 
'V,         :T'~'   I'-'i-'v  -.■hi.1,.,...1  wlu.n    iu3   cin..a....|  vvt 

--'•''-'-■'vn-,,,M^.IIo,,nn..aniu,..,antJ,.n.,.;-,.i,l..n 
<"   '"■•■'■.;•    Mary.  -I,    i.   ,1,„„„|„,    ,|n.tl,er   I,.  u-on!,l   hav. 

'■o'lsent..,!    to   Mi.ct    Bv.on    a'^ain       \s   ii  u-,      1       i'         i  n- 
•      ,,  •  '-,•"";    -is   11  \\a-.  Ill'    loimd  iitc 

'"   Kav.nna  non,.  too  ,,l,.a.,n,.  an,I  ,l,„,,h  Ik.  ua^  ..aptivatnl 

'11-  own  .nalnluy.o  nval  ,1...  fanlitv  of  snd.  ar,.  vet 
S;;;,  '•■'■'":;  i-;'  — i'-yun.l  |,i.  v.,yVeni„s  opines"..., 
^     IK'X.  -.1   lu.     ,,  I>,w.nna  fo..   Pisa  Au,nst    17.' 'n,,o,... 


^ia_ 


i 


i\ri:<)i>i'<Ti<^\ 


tlvii 


ciiiiii'    :il~"    to 
l.llh  ;'    Aniii. 
llril    iIm-V  mill 


th 


|'iK:t.    t.iUiii-    tlir    l,mfi:in.-lii    1' il  ire    oi>    ll... 
IvroH   l.ii.l   MU-r.t..,l   t..  Sl,.!l.y   a'    ll.vi,..:i 

I^,.,.^!,  II,, lit    si l.l    iiiiil.-  in   tnuiuliii-  a  [.n  i- 

„,„,,1,  „,  ,.,„„,,ii,^-,.,,n^.nt:itiv..  f,.t;.r.-  work  f.oiu  .'ri.-l,  ..t■ 
.,,„.  Sli,  ll.-v  u.uv  took  up  tl..-  l-ltu  witl.  rntliiKiasMi.  so  t.ir 
III  l.usl  ;i>  It  .•om.ti.umI  11. ml.  ami,  I.mi.hi.-  of  hU  In.-i..!  s 
R.Mioiis  illiM'ss  i..  Ki.uLni.l.  w.ot..  ,.ro,,nsin-  his -l-paft-nv  for 
I,,l,.  llm.t  n'a.-l,...l  l.->Mn  ..nlv  in  .l.-lv.  IS'J'J.l.ut  tlu. 
.^,-,.,,„.„;U..  uvl.o.n.'  with  wl-I.-li  SlH.!l..y  -n-t.-l  htn,  vv=is 
,„,.„1„„|,  ,h..  !H..4,nni..-  aiwl  ll..-  -n.l  of  iIk'  ivtu-w..!  .•o.n- 
,  ..Ir-iiip  for  wiii.'li  .Mcli  was  ImiM^.Tint,'. 

15at   a  f.w  i.iil.s   uy  tl..-  ro.i.t  from  I'isa   li.'S   th.'  (-tU  <'C 
So  /.ia,  wliilher  SholU-y   an.l    M.uy.   with   Claire,    who   had 
,,„i„i„,.l  tluMn,  trav..lU.,l  in  Septonil-.T,  IS'JI,  s.rk.,,-  a  lu'st 
f,:,  li.ii,.  t„  ..otno.    Thcv  oxpl...-..,!  th..  ...iHiat.ti..-  sh.Hvs  w...i 
.U.li-ht.  an.l  ivt.ifiuMl  happy  it.  tlH'  a.si.nnu-..  that    tlu-y  ha.l 
f  luo.l  tluMi-  snini.HT  haven  for  th.'  siw.-er.li.i-  y  af.    Miortly 
.,f,..rwunl  th.'V  h'fl  tiu-  I'.aths.au.l  ,v-.st:,hlish..l  th..ms,.lve3 
i„    I'isa   prop.T.  at    the  Tie    Pala//.i   .H  r\uv<:u  oppoMte  tlio 
I   u.f.  uu-hi  I'alaeo  and  Hvn.n.  inviiin-  tii.-  Williams  family 
,,,  .,.,,,pv  the  lower  iloo,.    The  Shelleys  -  f.v.-  f..r  the  m.H 
„i..„t   ftom    the   ca.es   of   aalho.shlp,    now    .ha.   H.lhs  an. 
Ma.y's  Valpenja   were  concl.i.le.l  —  lea.l    l.eely,   .hseusse.l 
i.h  matt.rs  with  Hynm  an.l  th.-  Wiilian.ses.  or  he.^.nh..!  tho 
„  ,.  uith  M.Mlwin  an.l  TaatY...     Shell-y  himself  walk.'.l  ami 
„i..  an.l  sail.'.l   n..t,  a  littl.  .  ..r  Uyn.n  woi.hl  m.scluevously 
invite  him  to  a   fonnal  .liiiner,  for  the  sak..  of  watehin-   his 
ui.aM-.   or    woall    lea.l    his    <'.n»    t..    a    hea.vr    ev.Mi    nmro 
,;,p,,..-iatlv...  perhaps,  thai,  its  eivat..r.     liynin   plaee.l  ^'.eat 
vihie    iip-:i    Slulhv's  e.'i.ieal   opinions,  asseitin-  that   "  iuN 
alone,  in  this  a;."  of  hiimhuu'.  .la'vs  st.-m  tlu-  cnmmt.  as  he 
di.l  to-.lav  th.e  tloo.l,..!  Arm.  in  his  skitV.  alth.m-l'  I  '-"iil^l  ""t 
nhs,-,v  h.-   ma.le  any  progress."    These  w.mls  are  .pu.te.l 
from  the  original  li.rollrrflons  of  K.lwa.-.l  John  Trelawny, 
a   Cornishn.an,  o.ul  frien.l  ui   M.'.lwin  ami  Williams,  who. 
t!mm'h  ..ill  v'H.ng,  had  led  a  wild  an.l  var.e.l  career.     He 


iii'4 

I  IM'l 

r. 


•i 

it 


i\ 


-41 


xiviii 


I^'TIiOlJircTKKV 


1 


^"••ivcd  in  I'isa.  at  WiH 


I. -it  lis 


(i()|)ini,' 


Ml   SI 


■'•inv  U'illi.-ui 


criii 


;m( 


sc  on  tlie 


M. 


•SK'HC 


<'•"•'<•  tall,   and    st 


'•litcnantaii.    Jl 


roll' 


instance,  January  14.  ],SL'L' 

!"■'•  »e<Muits  for  a  snnuM.T 

"an  (>{   (ill, 


I  vt 


L'  \\;is  a 


iislinian."  as  M, 


ll\-    (IcsCl 


'*■   l<i'i«l   of    Iialf-Aial)    ] 


|illV- 


ixfv.-ntnrons  (lisjmsition 


■I'tHl  uiin.  wliosfi  frank 


littl 


L'   colony  on    the  I. 


>*<'i>n   won   liii..    tl 


manner  -uid 


I'O// 


>ind  tlie  Ai(fh 


""-   Anio.     His  Hecnrtl 


'^    ninrard   of  the 


peculiaily   interest 


"/•  are,  thoiiQ-li  s( 


■•^  of  Shell 


fi 


valo 
ami   d 


■■'"■^  'igure.  a  ready-to-hand 
'■'•"■  ='  l"»i^ti<'   picture  of  1 


>inexvliat   inacciirat 
"^V^-.I   readaide.    Shelley   fonndl 


'y. 


Jinislinl  I) 


^nimu.    Willi 


linn  in  /'/ 


i«J|'n  formed  a  h 


ams  andSJidl 


iiin  a 
rranti'v, 
"jniPiifs  of  an  Un- 


symho]  of  kniirht-e 


cv.  uit 


upon   SjK.zia,   and   1 


a.i,nie  with  'I'rel 


li 


awiiv  for  tl 


yi'on's  partv, 


■'"•oner  from  Captain  Daniel 


S( 
6t 

left  f, 


'e   vvas   con.M.issioned    to  order  a  1 


=iy>'igat  Gtnoa.    Karl 


Rohert 


(-■  ensnin^r  descent 
ittle 


oi'  Spezia  CO 


y  ill  Feh 


an  old  friend  th 


eijriia 


i-y  Shelley  and  Will 


tliat  oidy  one  <,rood  resid 
was  -to  serve  for  all."    'fj 


secure  houses,  hut  returned 


len 


laiiis 


to  annoui 


ii(!e 


l)y  B 
the   T 


ron's  defection.    D 


-nee  was^t.,  he  had.  and  that  this 
;     i'owever,  hecame  limited 


;ill 


Will 
her 


iiscan   s[)ring  Shell 


'nrin^r  the  softly  I 


Ify  wrote  liis  tl 


'amsorij,dnallyintende.l  only  for  tl 


nsl.and  and  herself.    H 


y  Iwautiful  days  of 

'i-ee   lyrics   to  Jane 

•e  private  readin<rof 


mcntary  drama.  Charles  the  /, 
It  was  fortunate   for  the    SI 


^  was  also  at  work  on  the  f 


irsf. 


raL'- 


afifauist 


which  Shellev  w 


going  to  Spezia.    Not   H 


Ueys  that    Byron  decided 


CI 


iii'e,  des])ite  all   int 


as  accustomed,  hut  I 


yron  s  posing  huti 


lours,  to 


us  stea.iy  cruelty  toward 


'■'^'";1«'"1>,  and   it  was  therefore  witi 
nat  he  aocenfp.l    K.r. •     i     •  ■ 


tM-vent,o„.   slowly  wore   out  Shell 


tliat 
h 


accepted    Hyron's  d 


relief 


■'•a,  who  soon  thereafter  died 


efision.    Cla 


on  all  grounds 


'i'<^«  anxiety  for  Al- 


caused  her  such  sutl 


in  an  uidiealthful 


^'•iug  that  Shelley  and  M 


convent. 


and  Claire  to 


S])ezia,  followe<{  tl 


IVI 


0  '-•  with  then.    On  A    .     '.^v  ;"  '  '■""'^■"'  ''' 

1  ^'   •      •      ■       -  '"'-''  ^'^^^''^«'"y  escorted   Mary 

•e  next  day  l.y  Shelley  an.I 
party  were  settle.l   in"  Casa 

e  villa  on    the 


the  Williamses.    By  May  1  the 


'igni,  a 


l>'ctures,jue  hut  not  too  comfortabl 


INTUODVCTION 


dix 


l?av   «f   Lovici,   neur 


the  lisliinsr-lianilet  cf    S:in  Tereiizo. 


Claiic.  appiis^xl  at  len-th  of  AUe-ni'.s  tleatli.  returnei 


;i  time 


ti.  F 


lOlTlU'l- 


and 


I 


to  It'iid  a  liaiitl  in  Ciptain 


itlaw  ny  jiiocffdi'il  to  (, 
Rolifits'sboal-biiildiiip 


iciio; 


1  for 

theio 


Tl 


IS  now 


)]!( 


liidod  not  only  Shelley's  cr 


ift,  but  a  yacht,  the  Bolivar, 


for  livron. 


On  May  12  thelont^'-expccted  boat  arrived,  bnilt  from  the 
soniewhatVccentric  plans  of  Williams,  but  so  swift  and  f,'race- 
ful  that  Ariel  became  her  name  o 
Juan,  as  Trelawnv 


i  rii;ht,  rather  than    Don 
had  named  her  daring  the  ori.Ljinal  part- 


nership.   Charles  Vivian,  a  yonngsaibn-dad,  one  of  the  crew 
Nvho  bronoht  her,  was  retained,  and  made  a  ([nietly  elHcient 

Mil!  Williams  and   the 


id  per  to 


the  too  pleased  and  energ 


l)ook-preoccupied    Shelley,    w 


ho.    delegated    to    steer,  used 


..ftener  than  not  to  put  the  helm  the  wrong  way.  Trehiwny 
a!id  Roberts  touched  at  Spe/.ia,  June  13,  with  Byron's^ ya(dit, 
and  Trelawny  went  on  to  Leghorn  three  days  later.   Whether 

almost  constantly   reading  or 


on 


land  or  sea,  Shelley  was 


iniisuu 


thouirh  at  times  his  nnxx 


I  was  as  c.uick  and  merry 


as  a  ( 


•hild's  at  play.    The  Triumph  of  Life,  begun  at  Pisa 


an< 


1  continued  at  Casa  Magni,  is 


die  last  fine  fragment  of 


.1 


his  poetic  work.  The  poem  is  touched  with  a  deeper  and 
truer  philosophy  than  of  old.  the  fruit  of  maturing  exi)e- 
rience.  and  leads  us  to  feel  that,  if  time  had  been  his.  he 
would  have  become  at  once  more  human  and  more  catlxdic, 
less  impatient  for  the  renovation  of  life,  more  penetrating 
in  its  interpretation. 

bi_jiianv  of  SheUev's  mostjiaunting  songs  there  h  luumi 
the  ecdioiuiTuJiisiifiiLiffi^  IS  ever  of  a  really  robuiO^ 

ci^^stitution.  and  subject  «luriiig  liiiiust  years  to  spaimii*  <»{  • 
acute  pain,  heinsen.sibl/alloAYed  hisjouthfully  pensive  anlk. 
cipations  to  take  on  a  more  settle.l  habit.  When  boating  with 
Byron  during  the  summer  of  1816  and  threatened  with  acci- 
dental death J.e  felt  in  the  i)rospect,  he  wrote  to  Peacock, 
"a  mixture  of  sensations,  among  which  terror  entered,  though 
but  subordinatelv."    Trelawny  tells  us  that  Shelley  remained 


1 


lyTUODUCTION 


inort,  nt  t!,,.  I.otton,  of  a  ,1,.,.,,  ,,o„l  i,,  tlio  Arno  .h.rin.r  the 
I.n.-rc.ss  of  tl,e  only  swi,mnir,^r  lesson  l,e  soenis  to  liavo 
tak.M,.  a,i,l  |,H,1  to  l,c  lKi>iily  rcscu...!.  -\VIhm,  l.o  recovemi 
liis  h.eati,.  1„.  sai,!  :  -^  ahv:tv.sjm,l    the  holtom  of  thn  vvoll 

I'av..  fo^T;n,.a:,a  .vuu  woul.l  have  fo.,„l  an  .....pty  shell.'  " 
Ami  at^  Ca.a  Ma:;,.!,  oaiin,;  the  boat  o,.e  ,lav  into  .leep  u  ator, 
«'ith  Jane  W:"i„.,s  and  her  I.ahes  as  passengers,  he  sat 
Hl.nt  a  wh.l...at  last  lo.kin^r  „,,  and  exelain.in.r -■  No,v  let 
us  tog.4he^Jve_Uie_greaUnys^  "   Williams  N^tes  of 

what,  perhaps,  was  tin,-   st.-an.:,.esi  j-ortent  of  all,  ti.e   vision 
l.at  cau.e  to  Shelley  in  May  of  a  ehil,!   like  Alk-.^-a  risinj. 
t.om  t  u.  sea,  to  s.nil,.  at  hin.  and  elaj.  her  hands  in  joy. 
_     Ivuly  .n  June  Clai.e  retarne.!  to  Casa  Magni,  and  assisted 
m_nnrs,ni;  Mary,  who  heeauie  for  a  week  or  n.ore  seriously 
ilK     ll.uu.d.  attended    hy  Shelley  with  unrelaxin.   devotion, 
sl.e  improve,!    hut  slowly.    By  July  Hunfs  announee.l  de- 
IKirtui^e  fron,  Genoa  for  Leghorn   .ieferndned   Shelley  and 
^Vlll.:un^J<,  s.dl  for  the  san.e^.rt,  that  tl.ey  might   there 
welcome  h,jn_to  Italy,  and   see  his  fun.ily  safely  housed  in 
thfcjowei^oor  oj   the   Lanfranchi   I^ihice  at   Pisa     WIth_ 
vag..e  le^us  Mary  saw  her  husband  en.bark,  and  -  eried  bit-' 
te.ix_wl|en  he  weutuway."L  The  voyage  was   pleasant  and    ^ 
«peedy,  but  disappointment  awaited  th.>  voyagers.   Alth.>u'di 
|Iii>iL!HiHm:i;<l  and  was  greet,.!  with  at!Vetionate  warnin, 
Jivr;^..,  us  It  happ..ne,l.  was  sulking  at  a  slight  put  up,>n  him 
l.y  ti.e_It.ahan   anth,niti,-s,  and  wa-   resolve,!  to  .p,it  tin-  lit- 
<>mry  enterprise  an,I  the  eountry  at  onee.    It  was  imperative 
tjiat_SdudK^y  siiould  ani.eaUo   Bvron   on   b..I,alf  of  Hunt's 
necessity  and  goo.l   faitlN.  whi.-h  he  ,li.l  with  so  much  foree 
and_reas<,n  that  a  satisfactory  i.rogramme  was  at  last  ar- 
ranged.   %  July  7    all   was    settle,!.  an,l   the   poet,  turning 
to    Mrs.   H.mt,   as   the    tii.ee    frien.ls    stn.lle.l    ai,out    Pisa 
exclaime.1:   '•  If i^iu^,>-,._^n;,.w,  IJutve  lived   to   be  oldeL 
^thau ^ly  fa^er ;   I  am  ninety  years  of  age.'^ 
•  PVoiii  .1  lettor  to  Mrs.  (iiaborne. 


IXTUODUCTION 


li 


Vrnpliotie  words!  Farewells  were  pxclian^cd.  Tliiiit  i)nt 
into  Slu'Ucy's  hands  a  cn]^y  of  Krats's  list  volume,  and  tli.i 
.voiiini^  sliadows  of  the  Lcghurn  road  swallowed  up  tlie 
form  of  his  t'rien.l.  On  the  morrow,  July  S.  US'-'L'.  hoili  the 
j.ort  aulliorities  and  the  friends  of  Williams  and  Shelhy  at 
Leghorn  were  disturl)ed  hy  si-iis  of  tempest.  Cai)tain  Ilol)- 
cits.  in  iiartleular,  sought  to  detain  them  for  anotlier  day. 
l{iit  dissuasion  was  of  no  avaih  Both  were  anxious  to  return 
to  Casa  Mat^nii.  and  shortly  after  noon,  with  the  lad  Vivian, 
tliey  set  sail,  watched  anximsly  hy  the  -lasses  of  Roberts 
and  Trelawny.  A  few  ho\us  later  a  thunderstorm  broke  in 
earnest,  the  several  smaller  eraft  seurryin^'  before  it  into 
harbour.  Trelawny  was  stationed  on  board  the  anchored 
liolivar,  whence  he  did  not  retire  until  dark.  Roberts  saw 
the  la>t  of  the  Ariel^rom  the  lighthouse  tower.  It  was  a 
speck  some  niTles  out  at  sea,  but  his  glass  descried  the  occu- 
pants taking  in  the  tojjsail. 

Not  for  several  days  did  the  sea  relinquish  its  dead,  cast- 
ing iiplShellev's   body   near  Via   Reg-iu,  and   Williamss- 
alujut  three  miles  distant^Jji  Tuscan  territoiy.  The  end  had 
come,  and  Shelley's  life  of  ligiit  and  song,  — 

"  _  .  .  its  ])inioiis  (lis.iiTMVLMl  of  mitjlit, 

Diooju'd ;  o'er  it  oIosimI  tlu;  cchoLS  i'ar  ;i\v,iy 
Of  thu  j;''i-'at  voice  \\lii(li  did  its  <iit;lit  sustain. 

As  waves  which  lately  jiuved  his  watiTV  way 

Hiss  round  a  drowner's  head  in  their  tempestuous  play." 

Some  weeks  i)asse<l  before  Vivian's  l),)dy  was  found. 

The  anxiety  of  tlu;  women  at  Casa  Magiii  soon  deepened 
into  alarm,  and,  on  the  Frhlay  following  the  fatal  Monday, 
drove  them  into  Pisa.  Tliey  saw  Byron  first,  and  then 
Rob..rts  and  Trelawny  at  Leghorn.  None  could  comfort 
them.  After  anguislie.i  conversations  they  were  persuaded 
to  return  to  Lerici,  accompanied  hv  Trelawny.  The  bodies, 
much  nnitilated,  were  found  July  17  and  18.  In  one  of 
Shelley's  pockets  was  a  volume  of  Sophocles,  in  the  otluM- 
the  borrowed  copy  of  Keats,  turned  back  at  The  IJve  »f  Sf. 


I    <*: 


lii 


INTRODUCTION 


A!,»rs.    The  stvuv^onry  of  ,1.0  Italian  ,,„arantine  law  made 
It  ...■.•.■ssuT  to  secure  permission   to  erernate  the  l.oclies — 
airea,ly    oihcally    hu.ie.l    in    .(Mieklinie   o..    the    shore- in 
onier  ,„  preserve  the  ashes  for  later  interment.    (J„  Awn:,t 
•>.    I.vlauny.    Hunt,    an.l    Byron   gathere.l   on   the  heaeh ; 
the    nn..ral  pyre  for  Willian.s's  l.o.ly  was  .nado  ready,  and 
was  ht  hy   Irelawny.    ••  The  .naterials  hein,^.  dry  and^.esin- 
ous  the  pn.e-wood   hnrnt  furiously,  and  .Irove  us  hark     It 
.•as  ho,    enonoh  hefore.  there  was  no  breath  of  air,  and  the 
loose  sand  seorehe.!  our  feet.    As  soon  as  the  flames  became 
clear,  and  allowed   us  to  approach,  we   threw  frankincense 
an.l  salt  into  the  furna.-e,  and  poured  a  flask  of  wine  and 
od  over  the  body.    The  Greek  oration  was  ondtted.  for  we 
ha<l    ost  our  Hellenic  bard."    The  n..xt  day,  at  Via  Re,,do, 
Shelley  s  remams  were  similarly  treate.l.  before  a  -rou,)  of 
eurums  native  spectators.    The  story  is  realistically  told  by 
re  lawny.   M\_hat  surprise.!  us  all,"  he  concbules,  ''was  that 
the  heart  remained  entire.    L,     uitchinj.  this  relic  from  the 
fiery  furnace,  ,ny  han.l  was  severely  burnt ;  and  had  any  one 
seen  n>e  do  the  act  I  should  have  been  put  into  quarantine." 
llie  final  bunal  of  the  poet's  ashes  took  place,  by  Mary's 
desire,  ,n  the  Protestant  cemetery  at  Rome,  in  a  tomb  built 
by  Irelawny  within  a  recess  of  the  old   Roman  wall     This 
was  covered  with  solid  stone,  bearinj.  an  inscription  in  Latin 
written  by  Lei^h  Hunt,  with  a  passa.^e  added  by  Trelawny 
from  The  Tewjjesf,  well  loved  by  Shelley  :  — 

PERCY    HVSSHK    SHELLKY 

rOR   COUDIUM 

XATUS    IV    AUG.    MOCCXCII 

omiT  vni  .rirr,.   Mncccxxii 

"  Xothing  of  liiin  tliat  lintli  fa.Io 
liiit  .lot'i  sniff  r  .1  spa-cli:iin;e 
Into  sniiipthiiif,'  rirh  aii.i  Ktran^'e.'' 

In  the  companion  tomb  lies  Trelawm-,  whose  grave  is  in- 
scribed with  .Shelley's  lines,  The  Epitaph.     Nut  far  .awa- 


ISTRODUCTION 


liii 


aro  tl.e  gravos  of  John  Keats  an<l  Josevl.  Severn,  an.l  that 
of  John  Achlinston  Syn.on.ls.  h>ver  and  hio,,M-ai.her  of  Shel- 
ley -Ana  all  ahont  -vow  everv  sovte  of  fh.wve.  -J'f'^^ 
,„;,l  daisies,  roses  an<l  clover,  and  over  all  the  tall,  <lark 
cypresses  wave  solemn  hon<;hs. 

SIIEI>I.KY    AS   I'OKT-^ 
There  is  nothin-  more  .lifheult  t..  detine  than  Poetry,  he- 
oause  there  is  nothing  n.ore  Protean.    The  st;.teme..ts  are 
as  various  as  the  creators  and  the  critics,  and  .t  is  well  th.t 
it  is  so,  for  parth-ularity  and   insistent  dicta  are  fore>^n>  ^c 
the  spirit  of  literature.    Literatnre_is  large  andcathol.c  ;  >t 
is  in   its  essence  a  n.ystery,   incapable  of  prec>se_sc.ent,hc 
analysis  ;  it  is  an  unquenchable  spiritual  impulse  and  adven- 
ture^ealiml  in  words;   it  is  the  interpretation  n    thoT^ream 
r   life;  an.l   with    its    instinct   humanity  is   mahenahly  en- 
dowed.   "Yon  cannot  escape   Literature,"  dedare.l   Sidney 
Lanier.    "  For  how  can  you  think  y.urself  <.ut  ot  thought  f 
How  can  you  run  away  from  your  own  feet  f  " 

Yet  there  are  at  least  three  .pndities  that  may  seem  to 
detern^ine  the  literary  artist,  the  poet.    He  must,  fn'st.  8eek_ 
pure  truth  with  a  devote.l  and  single-minded  enthusiasm, 
whateverUie  cost.    He  must  cherish  every  hint,  every  gleam. 
He  must  catch  the  rhythms  of  the  noisy  life  about  him  as 
those  of  the  sea  and  the  forest.  He  must  be  at  heart  a  man  of 
i,.,ense  social  sympathy,  yet  of  a  lonely  h.bil.    Certainly, 
1,,  ,vill  belong  the  more  truly  to  the  woi.d  ot  men  because  he 
does  not  belong  to  them.     He  must  be  for  mankind - 
'The  okIv  speaker  of  essential  t_i;iith. 
OpH.ised  to  relative,  couipurative 
And  temporal  tnitlis.' 
'•Poets,"  said  Shelley,  "  are  the  unacknowledged  legislators 
of  the  world."    And  again.  "  A  poem  is  the  very  image  of  life 
1  Tl.eatten.pt  l.a«  l.een  u.a.le  to  toneh  tl.e  l.io-,apl.ieal  sketcl.  with 
criticism.    The  presen,  treatn.ent  ain..  to  derive  general  crmcal  prin- 
ciples from  the  particulars  alrea.lv  given. 


•t'i 

'i\ 

'   i* 

'k 

i  '\ 

I 

i 

'■■ 

t   i 

i. 

T 

i    '' 

.  1 

, 

"! 

IIV 


ly'lUOhlCTlOX 


fxprcsscd  ill  its  olrnial  truth 
''lit   Iianl.    It   is  liis,  al: 


Tl 


tih 


■•il>tism   III   salt 


Hi  place  of  the  poet  is  J^Iirh 
ove  others,  to  ox]K.rieii,.(;  with  foiH- 


aiid   oven   at  times   in   ait  f..r  lii 


"•ater.      to  siim-r  „ol,l 


V     Ml 


ifo 


Hlldwith  stniL;-ie.  yet    1,0  still 

s(.litarv  flLrin'o  „f  Alast 


IS  liouers   salve.     H   slowly 


spells  out  Ins  woid.    Siiell 


ev  s 


til(MI_;ll    I 

sadness.' 


IIS   ear   wa.- 


'"■  "■''"*  ""t.  "v  iiiiist  think,  iinl 


s    lioldeii    to   he, 


ir 


ll 


lapj.y. 

It'    eternal    imto  of 


Til 


liiri. 


I)oet  must  have,  also,  fi 


<s  in 


l:m-iia-j.-.     Th 


iiesoiisihllity  totheh 


J»e   works 


lis.— 


il 


positive 


'•■>   du'tioii    must    1) 


ly- 


Is  IS  the  pla 
ill    Words:    II 


;uif.v  that 


iiK; 


sur(j 


seiitiii' 


liim. 


H 


L'  must   liL"  ii 


1    I'epresentiiiif    life 


words,  their  i 


l>oems  must  not  1 


eeiilv  a 


"latciial  with  which 


I    silences. 
:iiid    repre- 


ei,^ativelv,    il 


•iiisic,  colours,  individual 


tl 


)e  wor 


ili'i-isons.  hut 


ware  of  the  di,<,'nity  of 
s.and  kiiishi])s.    His 


ille 


"IS  re-ard  for  words  —  indeed, 
in,!,'  such  re-aid  —  | 
into  the  root  ri-^rl,tncss  of  tl 
truth  ail 


word-hoines.    And    te 


asf,  a 


i>i  ••"iidiiioniii-  and  jiistify- 


aii    im; 


llll'I-S. 


Art. 


'eUlll^r     insi.rlit 


With   its   hun..'cr  f 


«l  -ts  ,,assion  for  heaiity.  feeds  also  ami  al 


or 


good,  upon  the  law  of  1 


must  til 


o.(!and-virt 


e  artist  he  ;  hut  I 


ways  iijiou 

"t--o;raiiied  aesthete 
'e  must  he.  hefme  and  heyond  that, 


All 


a  .nan     One  iii  any  tiehl  who  delights  to  picture';;;:;:.;;; 

It     UM.  sake    who  IS  preoccupied  rather  with  the  tempo- 

y   alliance   of   energy   and    evil    than   with   the   stru-ile 

'-t  ".a  e,  ,.,  characer-such  an  one  is  not  less  dead  tL 

-"y   tlKin    to  ,ood.    It    is  ,uite   true   that    the  prof    l!^ 

'-•  '^^I>-.al  pleader,  and  does  not  see  and  show  impar. 
-I'y-    "-^I''-^-'''l'l'I'>  ill.-  „..,„,„  si.ellev,  no  end  ol 
-owncm,ceptioi.sofri,,,andwro„.w-hi;hare^.^,^^^ 

-of  his  pla..  and  tinic.  in  his  poetical  crea, s.  w    "h 

'     ;;P;-;''->>ier--    v..  it  is  a...  true  that  Hfe  is  seej 

■n      .r      r  '   """  ""'   '"^  'l-Miii^Ji^  is  of  moral 
^  ""■"";   .'''Vorygi.c,,t  aitis,  is  implicitiv  .levoted   to   the 

.■io^.d.  IS  sincerely  on  the  hetter  side.' All  sur.^^^^^^^ 


masterpieces  are   marked  by  uiimistakahle  si.ns  of  I.../..: 


\ 


lyriionrcTioy 


Iv 


tint  wl.irh  is  lu.lv.  wIkvI.-vcv  i.l..t  <.v  nu-tliod  may  appear. 
No  .^..ni.is.  l...urv.T  crrati.-.  Xhvrvinva,  has  l.ceii  radically 
vi..i,MH.  Thun-1.  tlH>  li-l.t  !u.  livt's  ill  may  smuctinu's  l.lm.l 
l,i„,.  it  will  nnt  l.la^t  him.  Kx.tj:aonlmai-y  siucei'ity  w-^lo- 
,„.,,*,1,.,1  in  art.  u  h..l..-h.'aitr,i  all.-i;infc  to  (..u-'s  i.loal  and 
i„-.pi.atT..n,  and  lif.d.m-  pc-cveranc-  in  the  attempt  to  reah/.e 
ll,,.^-.    "  Poetry  redeems  from  decay  the  visitations  of   the 

divinity  in  man." 

Notwithstanding  the  varyin-  emphases  of  the  great  poets, 
—  variations   often    more   api)arent  than   real.  —  it   wdl   he 
,„„„.l    that  their  liv.s   and   their  works   satisfy  thoe  condi- 
tions.   It  is  easy  todistinjruish  Shelley's  poetry  Irom  \\  onls- 
worth-s.  or  fron.  Shakespeare's,  and  yet  it  would  .sometimes 
l.c  a  i,'o.Hl  deal  less  easy  were  it  not  fur  the  s.n-le  faH  o 
.tvT,..-_the   characlerlstle   elothin-.    or   rather   the   special 
uTv   in   which   ea<di   man's  work  >n'<irs   its   clothin-.    Even 
so  "there    are    h.ief    passages    \uAh,..fnr  that    Wordsworth 
,„i„.l,t    have   uttered,  and   lyric   touches    in   the  P,-n„cthe„., 
tlKit  would  not  readilv  he  wreste.l  as  spurious  from  one  ..f 
Shakespeare's  romantic  come.lies.    Tin.  truth  is,  that  Poeh-y, 
too   is  one.  an<l  that,  as  Shelley  himself  so  finely  phrases  it, 
"poetical  ahstractions  are  heautiful  and   new.  not  because 
the  i)ortions  of  which  they  are  composed   had   no  ju-evious 
cKistence  in  the  mind  of  man  or  in  nature,  hut  because  the 
whole  produced  hv  their  combination  has  some  intellis.hle 
an.l   beautiful  anah.i^v   with  th.>se  sources  of  emotion   and 
thoudit,  an.l  with  the  contemi.orary  con.liti.m  of  them  :  one 
.Meat  poet  is  a  masterpiece  of  nature  which  another  not  only 
ou.drt  to  study  but  must  study.    He  mi-ht  as  wisely  and  as 
eMsilv  determine  tliat  his  mind  should  no  lon-cr  he  the  muTor 
ot  ail  that  is  lovelv  in   the  visible  universe,  as  exchnle  from 
bis  contemplation 'the  beautiful  which  exists  in  the  writings 
of   a  LH-e.at   contemporary.    ...    A  poet   is   the   cond.med 
pvoduct  of  such   intern:d    ;     wers  as  modify  tW  natui-e_of 
others  ;  and  of  such  exteThal  nifluences  as  excite  and  sustam 
S:,.^^  ,,i,u'ers  :   he  is  not  one,  but  both.    Every  man's  mind 


Ivi 


/.v77.'o/ircr;o.v 


/ 


""„■    '■'  '■"'■'>■  "'"■''  ^' ■v.T.V  «„;bc,,i „.|,i,.|,  1,0  over  J 

;;;.:'i:;;:t:r,;;;r;:;;-';- ^» -.;- i-^,:::!; 

!.^:^"s,r;;:r,n:r:l'::;;:r;:,:nS''r''" 

-•ly   won    f...    ,n.„    the    title    of    -th,.    poets'    poe    '  •, 

Jlo.nn- an.I   tl.e  Greek  tr,.„.e,l,Vs  ;   i,.   Tl L.nt,,      M       1 

-  i^o„=i.„.    ovi.,,vi,,i,...., ;:;;:;;:  r;^-^^^^ 

-ii.iuaiiN  .    Ml  iMilton  s  austere  f^in/.  ..>,  1  i  • 

-■.■•;•   -•i<s:.,.  in  ,,,epoeu.s  or  S..o,t:M:Z^^^^^^ 
^\....,lswo,.th.an,l  Col...,-,!..,    0„,„„.  ,.,„_  ,,^.         '        "'      ' 

yars  he  praise,!  m,u-hCal,le,onan.l  I)„.te   an,  u 

wit),  ti.        1  1    I  •  ".line,  ,111,1  I'ead  Jivron 

.0   l.n»e    was  ,.„ne„„„„li„sly  c,„„i,|e,,.,l,le  I- a,,,,  „.  L, 

aT'2      I  """,»•"•'■'<»'"'  '•>■■  li'-vmn,.  in  a  late,-,  a'y.    „1 

""<»K  ot  Juli  especiuliv. 
.       i  he  In  ,n,-  persons  u  ho  n,o>t  i„fl,H.n,.e.l  Shellev  have  heen 

a-      ynn.UnHu.lan.l,,..se,.ihe,Mntheske,eh\.fU     r 

a    k^  lari.  Shelley  see.ns  eh,e%  eoneerne.l  with  its  inren 
natnre    iieither   ns  vnef    i^,  ■    t    i  s<-es 

....  a ,  .,;..rr x:r- ,::r;;t\: 

^rom  the  Preface  tc  Promelheu,  Unbound. 


ISTUOUVCTION 


Ivii 


R 


,t'Si)onsive 


unreal  projection  of   human  tl\ou;^lit  atid  fanry 
as  lie  is  to  every  seiisiions  impression,  ami  ea^er  to  trace  tlio  ! 
coiiise  of  Imnian  dotiny  in  the  syniholic  aspects  of  natnie.  h«  ' 
\  ft  rharacteristically  regards  all  natural  phenomena  as  vital 
ill    tlicni-elves   and    for   iluni>cive<,    iinder>taMdinL;-   man    no 
l.'^s  than  underslond  In  liini.  lioiicmrin-  tiieir  own  dii^nity  as 


m 


■niliers    of    the    spiiilmd    crononiv    o 


f    th 


univer>e. 


am 


ralmer   am 


1   t 


rner   in 


their   niiivemenl    toward   (h'stinv  than 


the    morta 


is    who   live    aniont^    them    in    alternatin;^    tits    of 

tnal 


uid    crmlty,  of   fear    and    lio])e,    into   their  spii^ti 


hrollierhood   the    iiiiunined_jnav  gain    access 


hut 


only   oil 


terms  of  purity  and  lui-ellishness.    What  they  reveal  to  such 
led  for  the  larire  sake  of  all.  not   for  the  little,  local 


is  reveale 
)f 


1. 


Nature  and  man  are  tendin'' 


Ljam  ot  a  wanderini^  immai  _ 

toward  the  hij^h  estate  of  perfect  love,  and  each  will  he  the' 
lietter  for  the  otiier's  understandim;-  friendshi]).    Prometheus, 
tlie  ideal  of  ^n.   and   Asia,  transfigurejil   Natjire,   will  at 
ieiii^th  hecome   united   in    one    heing,  that   Light  of  which 
the  poet  sings  in  A<l<»ials  — 

"  .  .         .  wliosH  siiiilp  kindlen  the  Fnivorse, 

That  Beauty  in  which  all  things  work  anil  move, 
Tliat  Benediction  wliieh  the  etlipsin;;  Curse 
Of  hirtli  can  (Hiencli  not,  that  sustaiuinf;  Love 
Whifli,  tlirouf;!!  the  web  of  beiiif;  blindly  wove 
By  man  and  lieasr  and  earth  and  air  and  sea,  • 
Burns  lirii^ht  or  dim,  as  each  are  mirrors  of 
The  fire  for  which  all  thirst." 

It  will  thus  he  seen  tlmt  Shelley  is  at  one  with  the  roman- 
tic temper  of  his  ago  in  ascrihinr  to  nature  a  spiritual  (pialitj 
and  significance,  and  in  regarding  man's  life  as  syniholic 
and  progressive;  hut  he  goes  heyond  lloinanlicism  —  Words- 
wortliian  Romanticism  at  least  —  in  his  idea  of  the  vigor- 
ously dynamic  life  of  nature,  an  idea  he  holds  in  comnion 
with  nnxlern  physicists,  save  tliat  with  him  nature  is  almost 
every  wiiere  ai)otheo>i?;ed.  Wordsworth,  though  he  informed 
nature  with  intense  spiritual  meaning,  yet  saw  it  in  famjliar 
imases  and  in  rather  still  hahitudes.    Even  at  its  highest, 


f»« 


^ 


'W 


-m 


VIII 


iyTU()l)I(Tl(>\ 

".•itMroi„l,i.  worki.  .n,n...,vl.:.t   .Ion,..s,  i,.i/...l.  .-„  |,.,s,   I,,,,]. 
""''•  '"   ""-"•  •■""'   i^   ""'•"   .•'.'vj.,.r;,tiv,.Iy  I.Ms|„.,|  a,„l   sta- 


t'"^^MV  \Vl,..n.  i,  M,uv,.s  an.l  ..„..,  ,i/,.s  ii  .|,.,..  .„  .|,,,|, 
'""'"'""""'"'•-     '"'     ■.•!■.  il^  tnn,.   ,-..  ,|„.  t.„ f   fl„.  pi.;.; 

": ^''  "•"-^' •''  in  , i,v,i„.  ,.;„,,„,   ,,„i„.MlK,„;',a 

"»  ='  n:.l,M„  „„„„yui„.|.  T„  i\,„.,lMv„P,l.  natu.v  ,.  ,1... 
K:.r,H.„,..f  ,1m.  Ki..n,.I:  .o  {;iM^,Ju^,.,,,,,„,,„t.  si,.!!..,. 
inak..s  Ins  ,.;,.„,.■..  l..s  ,.,.„.,...:  ,1,:,,,  :H.,i.,„.l  pro,,!....!... 
A.v,ln,s:.  !,..,.  ,|,.„,.,,„    .v,.I<s.,la.X,.lu.ui„l,u.uk.ov..r 

;;-        .-M     N.nd.sauil.lspint.novn.,  e^..nuhen^ 

i.iLiu-     l..^|,,u-        o.vtl....lu.in,Vou...s,.,l'an,lK.a.-n,.l 

i\Ma  n.  tlu.  /V.,..7/.....    Tlu.  vrv  ,ny.l.ul„.n..al   hu n.ss 

:'t    "..Mv   of    Ins    Ma,mv-^onn.;tions-(;,v,.k    i,.    1k.,I;-    I,„t 

■n>--l  vn,o.I..n.  an,!  f..,v.,,,  in  spin, --.;,,.  tl,..,„  a,. ou-..,. 
ti.at  s„rs  ami  draws  .von  ...suaily  luuMnotioi.al  rea.i.Ts.  Hi, 
P-try  .liustrates  oiu-  ul  Ins  ,.u„  ..anlinal  .lu.t.i.n.s  as  ciiti. 

'•  •• -•'•''M'.'ls  us  to  f....,  tinu  wludMvo  pen.en-e,  and  to  hnaginJ 
tliat   wlncji  \vc  l<im\v.  " 

i-.   Shelley   is  nearly  always  a  coursing  poet.    Ti.ero  is 
sni.  n.h.s  work,  and   wind   and   storm.    An   '« enemy  of  s.- 
'••'■ty.     he  was  yet  an  anxious   lover  and   reformer  of  man- 
ynd.    A^ains,  o.vasional  laus  he  rei.elled.  considering  only 
the  laws  o.  the  spirit  to  he  hindi,,^.  and  i.nm.Uuhle.    He  wa's 
=.hvays  a  PkUonist  in  temper,  and  early  heeame  one  also  hv 
'■'•"--•t..m.    AH   that   man   needs,  he  thon,d.r.  is  freedon.  ,o 
tlnnk  and  ,o  aet.    (Granted  rehef  from  fear  and  tvranny,  he 
ca.motadtoeome  out  into  the   li;^hr  of   love.    liis   ininet 
w.ll  lead  mm  If  he  will   ha,  trust  i,,  f.,r  it  is   not  blind,  Inr 
IS   ma.le  purposeful  hy   the  Power,  the  Spirit,  that    ho'p'-:  all 
tnn,shna!lyto  realise  themselves  in  love.    Man    luu.  heen 
slKunetully  ahuse<l.  drnc^^e.].  „,ade  mad.  hy  oppres.on,  self- 
ishness,  a!!,!  dread.    Let  him  heeome  hlms.,lf  - 


"M.m,  ..no  !ia.ai„iii„„s  soul  of  m.u.v  ,i  soul, 

n  liosc  ii.itun.  is  its  own  divii,..  c.ntr,)! 

Wl... I)   .1  ■  .1  ,.  * 

''    '''  "••-^;J  Ji^'«  Lu  aii,  as  rivtjrs  to  tho  sea; 


iSTi:<>i)icTi()\  Hx 

r.iiiiili;!!-  ^li'l-i  -ii-''  liiviiit  ifiil  llifi)iit;li  I'lvc  ; 
I,:il..iiii-.   :liiil  piiii.  mill   wn,  t,  in  III',  's  l;i( ni  i.'rnv.- 
Spiirl    Ilk.'  I. nil.'  I)i;i--ls,  111. II.'  kii.  u    liou   v;.  nil.'  iImn   c.itilil  Im. 

■■  lli^  will,  uilli    '11   nil  MM  ].;i<<iiiii>i.   Innl  il'li^lit-i, 
Aii.l  -.  lti-1.  (11.  -.  il^  II.  nililiir^  -..il.'llit.  1, 

A  ^|iM  II   ill  I..  '^111.1  ■.  Ir.il   ini'_:lil  \    L.  ..l"  \. 
I,  :is  ,1  I    inpi'sl    v\  iii'^.'i!  sliip.  u  I1..N.    li.liM 
I, .IV.'  nil.'-i  llir.i'r_;li   u.iv.'S  wliiili  .l.ir.'  n.it  ov.Tu  li.'lin, 

Kiirc'iii;;  liti-'s  wild,  st  sinHTS  In  nvMi  its  scivi'i'.i-ri  svi.-iy. 

"  'I'll!'  ili^litiiiiiL;  i-^  lii<  --iiivi'  ;    licivin's  iitiiin-it  dct'ii 

(iivi"H  lip  liri-  st  irs,  ami  iik.'  :i  llmk  uf  slii>.'p 
Tlii'V  piss  ImI'iim'  Ills  I'M',  ai'.'  niiiiil..'i'iii,  .■mil  mil  on! 
Tin-  t.inp.'st  is  liis  stri'il.  hi'  si  1  i.l.s  tlic  .'lir  ; 
Anil  ill.'   ilivs-,  sliiiuts  t'liiiii  lii'i'  ili'ptli  l:iiil  li.-irc  : 
'  lIi'Hvi'ii,  liast  Ihoii  si'LTL'ts  ■.'    Man  iinvuiU  uw  ;    1  liavp  nunc'  " 

III  niili'i-  to  clrar  nuni's  \v;iv  fi'i'  him  Siu'llry  discuviTS  not 
oiilv  liis  iiiUTiial  foes,  liut  uIm)  till-  cxtorniil  eiicinics  which 
(■iiroina^c  thi'se. —  Kini,'  ami  Tii-st.  Against  iiolitical  and 
ti-i'leisiastical  tyrants  lie  lifts  u|>  a  Imi'iiiiiL;  voico,  in  his  O'te 
in  Lilirrfii,  Rei-nlf  of  Isl'Hii,  J'romrt/irjis,  aiwl  7V/c  Ciiiri. 
Here  he  is  at  ono  with  \\\6  most  anhnt  sjiirits  of  tlit"  inuck'i-n 
rcvohitionaiy  I'la.  though  in  point  of  ]iatieiico  '  In'  iiad  much 
to  h'arn.  It  secnipd  to  Slndh  y  tliat  iicrsonal  |irosi>ority 
and  content  meant  m'ai'T\'  .always  a  sclfisTi  hlindiu-ss  to  the 
woes  of  others  :  it  seemed  to  him  that  tlie  world  at  lap^o 
was  inUie  }^rip  ofTanef  iirTuKl  intolerahle  custom  ;  tFatnien 
were  simr^Ty  !uV(TTatiionsly  wearint:;  shackles  tiiat  r.ot  only 
hampered  their  movements  hut  corroded  their  very  souls  ; 
and  that  all  tliat  was  necessary  to  tlieir  deliverance  was 
acri'iitance  of   the   spirit    of   love  in  ])lace   of   tlie  dictates  ol 

'    In  in.ittrri-    intiniati'lv  atr.'itiiiLr   liinis.'lf.  liowi'vcr.  Sliill.'V   suini;- 
tinu'S  slioucil  I'xti.ionlinarv  liiii'^-siill'rrin;:'.    Nut.'  tli"  niililiu'ss  of  tlie 
fi.Uowiii.^'  ri'l)iikt>  in  a  l.'tt.T  '.>   laiii.s  Ollii  r,  liis  pnlilishcr  :  "  Mr.  (Jis- 
liiii'iH'   li.'is  si-nt    ni(>  a  copv  ..f   tiic   /V"/i'.'/iMi\.  uliirli  is  ci'i  tainl  v  ninst 
H'aiitii'iiUv  piinU'il.    It  i-*  To  In;  ri'-ri'ttiil  tliat  tli  '  .'inns  of   tin'   p.ri'ss 
>ri'  s  )  niniRTiiiis.  and  in  many  ri'spccts   so  ili'stiii.'tivi'  of   tin'  urns.'  of 
..  ,..,.,.:,.„  .,(■  ......trv  wl'.'cli.  I  fear.  OYL'n  vvittiont  this  ilisadvantairt'.  vor]/ 

fi'w  \  ill  nndtTstand  or  like." 


HI 


l:«'i 


r 


Ix 


ISTUohrcTlOX 


(what  tlicv  .'.illr.!  lau,'  ,i  u-illi„K,„.ss  t„  s..(>  a,„l  assniiu-  inan- 
^  kind's  In-rita-c  of  tV.T(I...n  of  soul,  and  a  dftcrinii.   tion  no 
lon.^,.,-  to  sni.init  |„  tli.-  uliiins   and  \vilfiilii,.ss,.s  of   srU-cui- 
stitntrd    ..xpluitrrs.     In    l.ri.f,  Slirllrv  uas  a  tlionM.o|,-^,,ini; 
liadical    in    tlion-lit.    in    t.Mclii.iir.    and    in    d.cd.    fhou^-li    a 
'"■"'.^  ■'•''"'    '""■•      '•'•   "'l^   wllolfsouicly   .allirst   in   liis  dcsiiv 
I'M   111''  u,. lid's  l„.tt,  iMiM.t.  yi-t  Im'  was.  in  Ids  personal  n  la- 
^Jions.  s,,ni,ti.nrs   slian-.ly    inst-iisiUvo   in  liis  vcrv  s..nsitiv,.. 
M.S..    \h'  was  liaidly  willin-that  m.-n  sl.oidd  enn.unt.r  and 
o\,.itliinu-  tyranny  with  its  own   weapons,  and  y.-t   lu-  was 
d.'t'i.ly    impatient    of    tlieir    Ion-    hesitation    to    he    free.     If 
Wordsworth  was  a  priwit  of  Liherty.  and  Hyron  its  sohlier, 
Shelley  rather  was   its   yonn-   pro^et.   who   hrooded",   and 
^promised,  and  exhorted,  and  lamented,  in  turn. 

Too  often   his   poetiy  strnek  the  note  of  jrrief  at  the  list- 
lessne>s  and  iiisuiHcieney  of  human  life.     It  is  intcrestini,^  to 
!.■  te  with  what  unrest  he  time  after  time  contrasts  life  with 
<leath.  the   wakin^,'  consciousness  with   sleep.     Indeed,  thero 
are  few  of  the   romantic   poets  who  are  not  moved  to  nohle 
utterance  on  these  twin  themes.    I„  Coleridge,  Wordsworth, 
Shelley.  Keats,  and  Uyron.  such  references  recur  again  and 
again.     For  the  sleep-ex|)erience,  it   seems  to  the  j.oet.  i)ro- 
vi  les  for  him   a  way  of  escape  from  the   weaknesses  and 
wrongs   of  mortality,   rescues   him    from   his  own   and   liis 
fellows'  littleness,  gives  his  imagination  the  right  and  the 
jiower  to  assert  its  mastery  and  -o  on  its  unchecked  adven- 
ture.   S:.,  too.  as  in  sleep  he  dies  to  the  world  of  fact,  from 
sleep   he    rises   with    .'ularged    horizon,    with   cleared    and 
refreshed  s])irit. 

"  Every  inorninR-  wp  aro  bnni :  every  iii^ht  we  dif." 
_  '  Fn  Lis  Es.nn  ,y.i  rhnsH-ndf,/.  Sl„.ll,.y  „ri...s  :  "  This,  and  no  otl.or, 
,s  jMHiuM.  :  —tocoiisiilVr.  m.defall  die  cirtMniistanops  of  a  particular 
rase,  Imw  tl>e  Krpatesf,|Manfity  an,l  -.mrest  ,|na!itv  „f  happiness  will 
ensue  from  any  acti.,nv  Itl.is]  is  to  l.e  i„sr,  and  tl.ere  ,s  m.  oflier  jns- 
ti.e.     Tlie  distinction  betwe.'n  justiee  and   ini-rey  w.as  Hrst  inia.Mned 

:,-::|:::v.    ."  ,;:ii;;r.(l   rr.  .iive  eveiy  relaxation  of  <  iieir 

tyranny  ,-w  a  circuiustajicu  of  j;Taco  or  favour." 


i\Ti:(U)r(Ti<>y 


Ixi 


....,„s    ,nust  ..atlu.,.   in-n   iWlf  all   ,h..   .n..unn,s   ami    1 .- 

,„.,,„.,   ,.f  .1...,,.   Sl,..ll..v  ...,u-lu.s   th..s..    i.l.-as  wu h   a   n... 
.Mi..:U,.anain,,..nn,>>m,u,l,y.l,au,l..>a,.v,,,.    .       W^ 

^,..,,,,,.,,/^//.s.J/.M/.//^^v^-.^.y^        ". 

Iv,,..;;  ..r/-"  -  /W'W;...  a...l   i..   tl..so  l.tten.!  .^nls 
,„„....,,,i,„  th.    Km,1.>1.  l.Hn.M,-,aa.ealKon.o;    •    lose, 
the   sMM    shiMlM,   OM    ..s    iM^l.t   ..a.s,    f.e.l..    when   ^^..   h.s 
v,M.,.,l  it,  with  ll.o  a..tM.M..al  cK-ws,  a.Ml  l.ea.-  Ihe  wl..s,,...-..,,^ 

,n.wM  the  tuml.   .,f  C^sUm-.  a...!   the   s...l  wh.  .   ,.   s,....m, 
the  s,„.-wa..n.   earth.  a,,a...M.a.k   the  to,..l,s,n.,.stlyot 

::;::a..ay..un.  people,  w,,o...,ehMvie.lt,.e.eM..n.^^^^ 

if  „nc  were  to  .lie,  clesi..-  H   '  sleep  th.-y  see,.,  to  sle..p.    ^"',1. 

rhu,Mann.i,..l.an.l..it, ph.  with  its  w.s.es  v.ea.u-y 

ohlivio...-''rheh,.u-esM..a..rwhiehSh.l.yhroosMpo 
the  tho..,l..s  of  sleep  a„a  aeath  a.v  a,..o..,  the   gentlest  ami 

truest  in  the  whole  ra.,--  of  his  shi..i..-  .n.a-ery 
Trisin._.na   falling  nu.sie,  it  was  .aia.  -  t.,.,e.     ..ften 
with   n.ehu.ehuly.    But    this   nu-la..cho'y   .s    not  to   be   u.n- 

.  ,  •     •  If    ;..   tliP  nielaiieholv  of   au   a.id 

fuun.lea  with   pess.nnsM..    It   is   the  n.c  am       , 

•utists,  a  pri..eiple  that  has  persi.tea  .n   le.Uon.e  hte.atmes 
espeeially!  f  ron.  the  tin>e  of  the  Saxon  sa.as  to  -  -;  d^y 
1,      roots,   perhaps,   are   three:    reco^,M.U.o..    of   the  Inc oni 
te..ess.,ihuln  life:  inability  to  exp..ss  a  U.,.a^^^^^^^^ 

,„h  wi.h  the  sheer  iirst  power  of  that  thouK.t  or  t... 
...a  failure  to  secure  n.ore  tlKU.  a  ve.y  .^,ht  share  ..f  O.   . 

ve.po,.sive  syn.pathy  of  n.en  and  won.en.     Ihe  poet  i.  haf- 
,e     at  ever/turn  by  these  ^' Thus  f-'s,"- ev.,  though  he 

fi,ht  the  better  for  then,,  -  the  l„n,tat,on  o     h  e^  t^^    1    > 
,,i,,,.,nan,Ma,e.theliu,itationof  love.    Shjaie     fit    1     n 

,Uao,aelv.     Himself    hi.ulerea    by   h,,.,self.   he    iooUlf,    - 
,,,,,  the;.o,.e  eagerly  to  tl...KU.e.p.,on..,,.a,^^^m 


I 

i  9 


his  later  days  cleei.iy 


UOUOUIUI 


]xii 


i\Ti:()/tr(Ti(>.y 


of  the  j.^.tti,.  i.ourr  l,f  yit  fdt  ,•.,M^tl•ai,uMl  t,.  ...voii  ;  lum-iy 
:il\v;iyN  toiuui-h    ;,ml    luuks   of   mi(l,ist:iii,liiiL;- ;    he    lias  Teft 
us  Ins   t.-.tii..„ny  t..i.d,i„-  i.ach   of   llirsu   .•..imnun    .somnvs 
Of  the  iiii|KM  fuctiiess  uf  life  lie  wn.tc  : 

^  '■  l-ifr.  lik..  a  (Iniiic  of  iiia,iy-c,,l„iir.M]  m1;iss, 

■^  ."^taiiis  llii'  uhii,.  i-adi.iii. f  ,,i'  Kt.iiilt y. 

';;;;■  Vu<\l  D.atl.  tiampl.s  it  to  fra-rrifiils.—  Diu 

If  tliou  wouhlst  bu  wiih  that  wliie-li  thou  dost  suek  !  " 

Of  the  :^tru--le  fur  exi)ies»i(.u  :  — 

■•  Wo    is  i,„.  : 

T1m>  uiiiL;,'.,!  u,.nl.,  <,n  uhi.-h  mv  soul  «oul,i  ,,iercu 
Intoth..  h.M;;ht  oliov'sra,  .  Cnivrrso 
Art'  I'liaiiis  of  Irad  arouii.l  its  th-ht  of  liro." 

An.l  a-ain:  "The  must  glorious  poetry  that  has  ever  been 
co.nnnnueate.l  to  the  worhl  is  proo.-J.Iv  a  feei.le  shadow  of 
li.eonL^inal  .■oi,(v,,tioi,s  of  the  poet.'  A.ul  of  the  iua.le- 
(jiuu'y  of  htiiiian  love  :  — 

"  ()  Love  I   who  ncwailrst 
The  frailty  of  all  tliiiij;s  here, 
Why  choose  \ou  the  frailest 
For  your  cradle,  y,,ur  lionie  and  your  bier  ?  " 

SheUev's  own  tlioir^^ht  of  hiinseli  as        ■t  an.l  refornier  is 
s-t  forth  ill  the  follouin^r  cxtiaet  from  a  leUer  of  Deeemher 
jK  1S17,  to  (Jodwiii.  eoneeriiiiio-  [^aon  (i,nl  Vi/th„n    ,,r  Thu 
AWn/f  ,./  Ishn.,:    -l   felt  that   it  was  in   u.atiy  respects  a/ 
Jjen.mie  i.ieture  uf  „iy  oun  iniml.    I  felt  t.iat  the  sentiments/ 
were  tnie.  not  assimie,!.    An.l  in  this  have  I  Ion-  helieve.l  j 
tha^   my  puuer  consists— in    syn,]iathv,  an.l   that   j.art  of' 
th.'   inia.;inati..n  which  relaf.^s  to  sympathv  an.l    c.ntempla- 1 
tion.    I  am  forme.1.  if  for  anythinj^r  „nt  it,  o<>nim..n  with  the  ' 
iK'-a   of    man!ciii,l.  t..  appreh.  .,1    minute   an.I    rei.   ,te   ,lis-  1 
t.ncti.ms  oi  fe,.ling,  Avhether  r.'lative  to  ext.Tual  nature  or  '' 
the  hvin^r  l„,i„^.s  whicli   s.irr.Min.l  us.  an.l   to  cmmunh-ate 
'■"•    ••"•i''<"Iti"Hs    whi..h   ivMilt    from   .•o.,M.l..rl„.,.    ..jther   the 
'"oral   or    th..   material    universe   as  a   whole.    Uf    course    1 


\- 


•f^-'-  -^ 


lyrnoD'CTiox 


Ixui 


l.eliove  these  faculties,  uliicli  peiluips  eoinproheiul  all  that 


IS 

iiiiiKt 


ihlime    in    man. 


to  exist  very   imiieifectly   in    my 


own 


I 


(•anno 


t   hnt   he   coiiscions,    ii 


much   of    what 


I    write,   of   an    ahsence    of    that    tnuHiuillity   whieh    is    tln3 
;,ttiihnre  ainl   acconiiMninient  of   power.    ...    If    I   hve.  or 
if  I  >,.e  anv  trust  in  eoniin-  years,  .hml.t  not  tliat  I  shall  .lo 
something'!  wliatever  it  nn.y  he,  whicli  a  serious  and  earnest 
..stin.ate  ")f  niv  powers  will  su--est  to  me.  and  whieh  wd^l 
lu.  in  every  respeet   arconunodated  to  their  utmost  limits." 
Godwin  n'ee.l  not   have  douhted.  for  SiieUey  was  not  horn 
to  pa^sawi.v  until  he  had   uttered   his  masterpiece.  —  holii 
a    revelation    and    a   prophecy.     Alasfnr.    too.    JoHan    <n,d 
Ma,hhdo.  and   J.lnnais.  Iiave   peculiar  vain-   as   presenting 
sidf-.lelinealions   of   the   poet\  ndn.l.  while   m   the   ex-pusite 
son-    of    the    Fourth    Spirit    in    the    rromdlwas    we    f^et 
sc,mkhilU;-iiillxi^i^ti^ii^i'Ji^^^  ^'"^  creative  faculty  that 

ni.hore  liim   in  tliose  jireat  moments  for  which  he  paid   m 


the  puin  and  sorrow  of  i^ray  intervals:  — 


"  On  a  piMt'.i  lips  I  sKpt 
Druamiii-  iik"  a  Idv.-ailcpt 
In  ilii-  soniid  liis  lir -u  hinu  Urpt  . 
N.ir  si'cks  iior  iimls  In-  iiiintal  Misst'H. 
lint  f<M!(i.s  on  \\w  a.M'ial  kissi  s 
Of  sli.ipfs  that  liaiint  Uioii-lifs  wil.leriiessfS. 
Hu  will  watcli  fioiii  ilawn  to  ulcxmi 
Tlu>  lake-rt'ti.'ct.-d  sun  illume 
The  Vk'llMW  he.'s  in  the  ivv-}ileoin. 

Nor  iieed  nor  see  what  things  '''^J"  '^^  '< 

Hnt  from  thi-SL«  cn-att;  hi'  can 

Forms  more  ri'al  than  Hvin^^  man, 

Nursliii  ;s  of  immortality.  ' 

It  remains  to  speak  of  Siielley>  distinctivo^  -style,  which 
is  of  .'ourse.  one  always  in  point  of  w<.rd-lore,  musical 
kfemu.ss.  vivified  sonslhililv.  arnlrrntlov,  yet  it  is  sej.ar.ahlo 
into  the  Ivric  manner,  th."  dramatic,  the  satiric,  and  the 
poleniic.  Ir,  the  Ivric  Shelley  is  in.st  surdv  himself,  stnk- 
in-  tl        edi  to  the  secret  of   his    feelin-  vsith  .pnck  j.enelra- 


if 
I'll 


1X1 V 


INTRODUCTION 


tion.  and  sinojin!::^  out  Iiis  emotion  oxultantly,  as  \n__The 
Cloud:  or  nioiirnfuUy.  as  in  Stanzdn  WfUi&»- in  Drjec- 
tim  ;  or  liotli.  as  in  I'^jiijisi/r/iii/ioii  ;  yet  in  all  with  an 
a~>t()ni>liiMi,r  antici|iativeties.s.  It  is  a  siiiLjiiif^  at  its  lia])))iest 
lil\f  till'  shrill  (li'lif^hl  of  his  own  skylark,  or  the  eairh'>s 
laptuie  oT  I'rownin^f's  tluii'^h,  hird-like  in  hoth  its  trillin;^' 
eclioes  anil  its  swift-lhnijjj  r'lforin'llcs  ;  in  its  (|uiet  earessini;" 
of  a  sinj^le  note,  as  "  dieilal  "  or  '•  multitudinous,"  and  in 
the  iloodiuL;  harmonies  of  its  iinale.  And  here  it  siionld  be 
said  that  Shelley's  endin<,^s  are  amoii^'  his  greatest  j)oetic 
victories  over  tiie  elogs  of  expression,  whether  in  the  lyrie- 
huilt  drama.  J't'onirt/ifiis,  with  which  he  could  not  rest 
(•onteiit  until  he  had  added  a  fourth  act  of  hope  and  glad- 
ness;  or  in  the  magnificently  sustained  ]ia3an  of  Eternity 
vvitli  which  AdniKih  hreaks  off  its  nujsic :  or  in  the  lin- 
gering ])ri.niise-refrains  of  the  ()(h  to  the  West  ll'iiitf  and 
the  ajiostrophes  to  Jane.  Yet  this  is  not  true  of  all  of  his 
work,  some  of  which,  in  its  sheer  lyric  ahandon.  is  over- 
cartless  of  the  oracle  that  "  truth  in  art  is  the  unity  of 
a  thing  with  itself."  In  the  sonnet  form,  particularly.  Shelley 
is  less  successful,  possibly  because  his  ri'pugnance  to  even 
a  literary  law  that  did  not  immediately  commend  itself  to  his 
art  sense  may  have  disturbed  his  pen's  ease  and  power. 
Certaiidv,  he  was  careless  here  of  the  canons,  and  seems  to 
liave  had  scant  ajjitreciation  of  the  self-justifying  genius  of 
this  difficult  but  finely  sul)tle  form.  Even  so.  one  cannot  but 
be  grateful  that  Shelley  nt  eded  no  salvation  from  the  vice 
of  fastidiousness.  It  is  possible  to  fail  in  art,  as  Browning 
writes,  "only  to  succeed  in  highest  ait." 

Something  of  the  same  unease  in  techniipie  appears  in 
the  dramas.  IfeUns,  Pronief/ifiis,  and  TI/p  Ci'nci,  of  which 
oidv  the  last-named  is.  in  the  traditional  sense,  a  con- 
tribution to  drama  ])roper.  I  have  used  of  the  I'miiief/iriis 
the  term  "  lyric-built."  for  Shelby's  utterance  is  always 
essentially  lyrical,  and  so  indeed  is  his  ])oint  ot  view.  By 
this  is  meant  that  he  is  chiefly  inteiesled   in   rej)roducing 


IMRODUCTIOX 


Ixv 


his  own  emotions  in  song,  —  emotions  touching  past  deaths 
and  pursecutious,  present  i)h-asure3  and  sorrows,  and  ideal 
aspirations  toward  a  World-Cause  he  too  often  felt  as  silent 
and  remote.     He  wrote  —  in  its  highest  s^nse  —  personal 
jK.etry.    His  aharacteristiQ work  is  never  horizontal:  when 
exultant  it  shoots  upward  ;  when  dejected  it  plunges  down- 
ward. ■  It  has  no  merely  craftsmanlike  propriety.    Of    the 
rroft  of  the  dramatist,  indeed,  he  knew  little  either  hy  ex- 
ptrience  or  hy  reflection,  tliough  his   critical  vision  showed 
him  the  meaning  of  the  dramatic   i>/ea  m  jdainly  that  his 
statement  of  it  in  the  preface  to  The  Ceiiri  is  among  the 
host  we  have.    "  The  iiigliest  nioral  purpose  aime<l  at  in  the 
hi-liest  species  ()f  tlie  drama,"  he  writes,  "  is  the  teadiing/ 
th?'  human  he^rt^irougli  its  sympathies  and  antipathiesJ 
the  knowredge^of  itself;  in  proportion  to  the  possession  of 
wliicli  knowledge  every  human  heing  is  wise,  just,  sincere, 
toUrant,  and  kind."  And  again  :  -  In  a  dramatic  composRion 
the    imagery   and    the    passion    should    interjienetrate    one 
another, "the  former  being  reserved  for  the  full  development 
and  illustration  of  tlie  latter.    Imugination  is  as  the  innnor- 
tal  God  which  should  assume  flesh  for   the  redemption  of 
mortal  passion.     It  is  true  that  the  most  remote  and  the 
most  familiar  imagery  may  alike  he  fit  for  dramatic  purposes 
when  employed  in  the  illustration  of  strong  feeling,  whicli 
raises  what  is  low,  and  levels  to  tlie  apprehension  that  which 
is  lofty,  casting  over  all  the  shadow  of  its  own  greatness." 
The  Cenci  itself,  though  an_actable  play  hy  virtue  of  Jts 
nrniTyiniariny'stnlci^^  challenging  antitheses  between 

the  incarnated  sptrits  of  good  and  evil,  its  lidelity  to_tragic 
"  pltyaiid  terror,"  and  its'g.'iieral  conformity  to  the  i)rime 
strueturat-Pomtittoli^^draina,  is  yet  rather  modern  than 
criticaTIy'ortluKlox  in  its  literary  tjendehcies.  The  last  act,  it 
is  tnuT.  eqi"nrnrT7rn"T^)ilJty  of  diction  the  nobility  of  its  passion  ; 
t-mphasizes  the  art  value  of  reserve  ;  is  finely  selective  ;  and 
not  once,  it  seems,  falls  into  the  tiresome  mire  of  Common- 
place,  a  success  only  partially  achieved  in  the  acts  preceding. 


■'ii 


V- 


Levi 


INTIiODUCTION 


In  these,  powerful  as  tliey  are,  Shelley  straii<,'ely  strikes  a 
few  notes  of  undonialile  Ihitiiess,  his  novitiate  in  drama,  jjer- 
hajjs,  ill  liie  less  inspirational  nionients.  iiitiini(latiii;r  hi,,,. 
Tlie  jilay  as  a  whole  tends,  like  Jlelf^s  and  the  I'rnme- 
t/ieiis,  toward  closet  drama.  Tlioii^'h  The  Cenrl  is  more 
immediately  forcefii'  tlian  lirowniiig's  plays  in  general,  vet 
the  Promefhenx  is  even  farther  away  from  the  stat^^e  ami 
stagecraft  tiian  Hardy's  Djndsts,  one  of  the  most  extreme 
instances Jii  modern  English  drama  of  the  closet  jilay.  In 
^  any  case,  the  direction    of  the  drainatic   spirit  of    to-day  is 

toward  mind-enactment.  We  are  beginning  to  suspect  play- 
house pLiusibility,  and  to  feel  that  jiersonal  Forests  of  Arden 
are  better  for  us  than  any  staged  jireseiitation  can  possibly 
he.  The  normal  man,  no  doubt,  even  i.  cultured  commun- 
ity, will  find  iu  a  carefully  staged  pe.  ormance  value  for 
both  bis  conscience  and  his  fancy  ;  yet,  as  the  jirogress  of 
tiie  race  is  steadily  away  from  the  yL^ctiv^'  to  tiie  subjective 
(precisely  as  Shakesjieare's  i)rogress  was  from  the  frankly 
I    I  concrete  figures  of  the  early  comedies  to  Hamlet  and  Th^ 

I  Tc)iq>est.  neither  of  which  plays  can  achieve  on'  the  stage 

a  success  commensurate  w"  h  its  spiritual  power),  it  is 
natural  that  closet  drama  is  becoming  more  aiid'more  per- 
sistent, and  that  we  should  have  come  to  feel  as  well  as  to 
admit  that  the  theatre  is  only  an  incident  —however  import- 
ant —  in  the  development  of  the  dranni,  and  that  a  play  is 
notgreat  liist  of  all  because  it  is  actable.  Shelley,  for'his 
])art,  felt  this  very  keenly.  '•  With  the  excejition  of  Fazio"  ' 
wrote  Peacock,  "  I  do  not  remember  his  having  been  i)Ieased 
with  any  performance  at  an  English  theatre."  In  his  JJe- 
fince  nfPoetru  l'«  discusses  at  some  length  the  history  of 
the  dramatic  idea  and  the  weakness  of  the  moilern  stage. 
His  own  plays,  given  their  api)roi)riate  background,  will  n.,t 
fail  of  their  social  and  spiritual  ap]»eal. 

^    Of  his  satiric  and  polemi-  verse  but  little  need  be  said. 

Though  keen  and  animated,  it  <io.s  not  convince,  because 

'  By  Henry  Hart  Miliuaii  (1791-1808). 


1 


';* 


INTRODUCTION 


xvu 


neither  Shelley's  luiinan  exi)erience  nor  his  tlieory  of  life 
wa»(iuite  extensive  and  catiiolic  enoiii^^li  to  enal)li'  him  easily 
to  see  iiuinour  in  folly,  or  love  in  hate.  When  he  derides 
we  do  not  feel  that  he  is  ([iiite  true  to  himself,  and  when  he 
argues  in  verse  we  would  ratlier  hear  him  '•  tell."  He  would 
have  i)roduced  less  of  this  sort  of  work  had  he  come  more 
fully  into  the  spirit  of  his  follower  Browning,  as  expressed 
in  Paracelsus'  dying  words:  — 

"  In  my  own  heart  lovi;  had  nut  hccn  iiiade  wise 
To  tr.ico  love's  faint  bef;imiinj^s  in  iniinkind, 
To  know  oven  liaty  is  but  a  nnusk  of  h)ve"s, 
To  see  a  f;i)od  in  evil,  and  a  hope 
In  ill-sueeess  ;   to  synii)athi/.e,  be  prond 
Of  their  lialf-reasons.  faint  aspirings,  dim 
.Stru^nles  for  truth,  their  poorest  fallacies. 
Their  i)rejudice  and  fears  and  cares  and  doubts; 
All  with  a  touch  of  nobleness,  despite 
Tlieir  erfor,  upward  tendin;;-  all  thouf^h  weak, 
Like  i)lants  in  mines  which  never  saw  the  sun, 
J5ut  dream  of  him,  and  jfiu'ss  wliere  he  may  be, 
And  do  their  best  to  climb  and  get  to  him."' 

Shelley's  theory  of  evil,  adinirahly  hopefid  though  it  is, 
seeks  to  aholisli  its  reality  ratlier  than  to  imjjress  that  reality 
into  the  service  of  good.  He  caught  foregleam  visions  of 
Paracelsus'  final  truth,*  hut  vision.s  not  lonir  ciiouoh  or 
intense  enough  to  hearten  his  thought  of  life  into  a  st.'adicr 
ami  saner  regard.  Sicellfoot  the  Tyrant  is  not  a  poem  that 
adds  to  Shelley's  fame,  and  even  in  the  youthfid  and  not 
ineffective  Queen  Muh  the  poet  in  him  is  uneasily  con- 
strained to  precipitate  the  worser  jjart  of  the  man's  hnnian 
ire  into  footnotes.  When  he  foregups  the  ungrateful  busi- 
ness of  denunciation,  and  begins  to  sound  the  high  and  jv  re 
notes  of  the  race  and  time  to  he,  it  is  then  that  both  he  and 
his  readers  most  surely  find  their  way. 

Slii'iU^y  stumiilcd  somctinn-;  in  his  jihvsical   gait,  yet   his 
habitual   movcincnt    was  a  (piick    floating  or  gliding.    It  is 
'  See  ['rum, til, lis,  I,  ;ji);;-;!or. ;  III,  iv,  .']si-;;s;]. 


•f 

'  I 


'4 
ti 


iHl 


Ixviii 


ISTliODl'CTION 


HO  ill  liiK  life  ;iii(l  liis  pot-fry.  Wlicri!  lu-  stiimbles  and  is 
clieckcd.  lie  n'<;overs  for  a  lotit^ror  udviMitiire.  A  iiiaii  of 
jjeiii'trativc  iiitfiitioii  and  restless  ini:ii,'iiuni,%  less  anxious  to 
lead  tlian  to  love,  he  reveals  Idniself  in  spiril-winLCed  words 
as  one  of  tlie  most  intimate  and  ])o\verfid  amon^^  the  stinni- 
lators  of  the  soul,  the  hiiilder.s  of  '•  tliat  <,n'eat  j)oem,"  to 
use  his  own  words,  "which  all  jxiets,  like  the  co-operatiii"- 
thoughts  of  one  i,neat  mind,  have  built  up  since  the  be'dii- 
iiing  of  the  world." 


s 


BTBLlOCRArilY 

TiiK  most  imporlaut  Sliclliy  liilili()t,n"ii.liics  arc  t 


II.    Iliixtoii    Foiiiiaii 


A»  /•; 


It/  III 


so  of 


I!i//li<iijr'i/i/i!/  —  and 


,lolm  r.  All. l.Tsnii —till!  Hihlio^rai.liy  appciKh-d  to  Sliai|."s 
IJl'i'  of  Slu'lhij.  Mention  may  ulso  Ix;  mado  of  Kicdcnck 
S.  VAV\sA  An  AliilKihctlnil  Tulle  "f  ('<>iifi;Nf.<  to  Shrllrifs 
I'lwt'ind   W'nrha,  adapted   to  tiie  editions  ot    For 


man    and 


W 


jtti 


an< 


1  of  C.  1).  I. 


lOCO' 


An    K 


lilintinil    (I 


>f  t/l> 


the.    lioilleuin    Ll/mrri/.    'I'lie    Shelley 


invniu 


al)li 


S/n-llei/    MSS.    Ii 

Society's  Pafiers  anJ  Publications  are 

Mai^^azine  articles  on  Shelley  and  his  works  will  he  fonnd 
listed  in  Poole's    In'li'x  to   J'rrio'/ind    Lite  rut  it  r,'  and    TJie 

(llfiil  Lite  rut  It  re.    The  American 
in    Index    to    Generiil    Litenitnre 


Header's  Guide  to  I'er 

Lihrary   Association's    J; 

should  also  he  consulted. 

The  foUovvinj^  list  comprises  a  carefully  selected  mimher 
of  Lives,  Critical  Essays,  Editions,  and  Poems  concerninfj 
Shelley. 


EnwAUi:)  Dow 


LIVES    AND    TIKCOIIDS 

DK.\:   The   Life  »f  J 'err;/  Bi/sshe   Shelley. 


Two  vols.    Kegan  Paul,  Trench  &  Co. 

Same.    Ahridged.    Kegan  Paul,  T:     ich  &  Co. 

John  Ai)i)iN'<iTOX  Symoxds:  Shellei/.     .  iacmdlaii. 

WiMJAM   SlIARl':    Shellei/.    Walter  Scott. 

Ki)\vAiii>  John  Trkf-awn-v:   Eeeord^  <>f  Shellei/,   Bijron 
and  the  Author.    Pickering  &  Chat  to. 

Thomas  JriKKUso.v  Hooo:  Life  of  Shelley. 

Thomas  Mi:I)\vix:  Life  of  Shelh-y. 

W.   M.    KossKTTi:   Life  of  Shelley.    Shelley  Society. 

Thomas  Love  Peacock:  Memoir.^  of  P'-rey  /lysshe  Shel- 
ley. 


«fiS 


!, 


' 


JH 

'■''i 

{>■■ 

■      ■  4 

!■ 

i  i 

M 

im 

1 

hm 

Jxx 


niiiLiOGiiAriiv 


H.  S.  Salt:  S/tr//,';,,  A  IH'xjmphh'al  Sfu(hj. 

Mu.s.  Jii.iA.N   Maksmall:  L[f.  and  Lrltvr.nf  Mary  WolU 

sfo,H'rr<,ft  Shrllril.     Two  V(.I<,        Hfi.tley." 

I-i:ii.ii   Hint:   Aiituhinip-dii/u/. 

iKi.   \\i:r.M:  JJurnrf  ShdUj  and  Catherine  Nugent. 
I  hi;  ^\tif(i)ii^  Vol.  xlviii. 


Alfki 


ClilTICAL   ESSAYS 

KoMKKT   i{ii()w.\iN-(i:   An  Kssay  on  Shcllei/. 

Lkslii.;  Stki'Iik.v:   ll,»irs  in  a  Lil>rar>,,  v(")l.  iii. 

iVlATTiiFw  Aknold:  Essaij.<i  in  Crifirisni. 

David  Massov:    Words<rnrth,  Shidlei,  and  Keats. 

huwAHu   DowDK.v:  Sfifdirs  in  Literatarr. 

K.   H.   IIuT-r.-.v:  Lit,  rar;,  Essays.      Maornillin. 

Geokgk  Edwaiu>  Wooi.iiKKKv  :  Makers  of  Literature. 

The  Torch. 
Wai.tku   ISagkhot  .•  Literary  Studies. 
Taut,   IJoritfiKT:  Etudes  e;  Portraits. 
AxintKW    La.m;:   Letters  to  Th'a,t  Authors. 
W.   M.   HossKTTi:  Lires  of  Eanioits  Poets. 

EDITIONS 

Works  ofPerey  Bysshe  Shelley  in  Verse  and  Prose.  Ed- 
ite.l  I,y  Harry  Buxton  Fornian.  Eight  vols.  Reeves  & 
Turner. 

Poetieal  Works  of  Perry  Bysshe  Shelley.    Edited,  with  a 

M.'mo.r.  l.y  Mrs.  Shelley.    Tu-„  v.,ls.    Honf^hton.  Mifflin. 
Complete  PoeHral  Works  of  Shell,- y.    Edited,  with  Menx.ir 

and  Notes,  l.y  (;eort,'e  Edward  Woodberry.    Four  vols 

Ilonprhton.  MiiHin. 
Poetieal    Works  of  Shelley.     Edited,    with    Menx.ir    and 

Notes,  l.y  W.  M.  R,,ssetti.    Three  vols. 
Poems  of  Shrllry.     Edit...!   by  Edward  Dowden.     (Globe 

edition)  Macniillan. 
Poems  of  Shrlley.    Edited  by  Geor.^e  E.  Woodberrv.  (Cum- 

biiiigu  edition)  iioii^d,ton,  MiiHin. 


BIIiLIOGIiArilY 


Ixxi 


A,hmn'i.i.    Editofi  by  W.  M.  Uossotti.    Clarondon  Press. 
A'/'ni'iis  and   AInstnr.     Edited    l)y  CMiarlcs  G.  D-  R()l>crta. 

Silver.  Hiirdett. 
I'nuiirt/ieiis  Uuhnund.    Edited  by  Vida  I).  ScudtU'r.    HcaUi. 
Srirrt  J'oniis  ofShilleii.    E<litc.i  l>y  W.  .1.  AIexan(U>r.  (Jinn. 
/•;.sN-/_v.s-  a/(-/  Letters  hij  J'erri/  lii/sshe  ij/idlei/.    Edited  by 

Ernest  Kliys.    Walter  S.olt. 
P<i('iiix  of  Shdlrij.    Selected  and   Arrant,rcd  by  Stopford  A. 

Brooke.    Macmillan. 
Wltli    S/iellei/    in    Itnli/.      Selected    Poems    and    Letters. 

Edited  i>y  Anna  I).  McMaban.    aieClurg. 

POEMS   CONCERNING   SHELLEY 
Rni'.KRT  BROWNlxr. :    Memorabilia  ;    rauline  (beginning, 

"  I  ne'er  bad  ventured  e'en  to  bope  for  tbis  "). 
Lkkjh  Hunt  :  Sonnet  to  SJiellei/. 
AViLLiAM  Watsox:   To  Edward  Dnwdeiu  on  his  Life  of 

ShdU'ii  ;  Shelley  s  Centenary;  Shelley  and  Harriet. 
Andkf.w  LAN(i:  San   Terenzo  ;  Lines  on  the  Inaugural 

Meeting  of  the  Shelley  Society. 
Edmund  Clarence  Stedman:  Ariel. 
Paul  BouR'ip:T :  Sur  nn  Volume  de  Shelley. 
I).  G.  RossETTi:  Percy  Bysshe  Shelley. 
W.  ]\L  RossKTTi :  Shelley's  Heart. 
,T.  B.  Tahb  :  Shelley.  A  Sonnet. 
Georck  E.  Woodberry:   Shelley,  A  Sonnet;    Shelley s 

House. 
Algernon  Charles  Swinburne  :   Cor  Cordium. 
Oliver  Wendell  Holmf^s  :  After  a  Lecture  on  Shelley. 


V   rh! 


iM'li 


^^ 


^- 


POEMS  OF 
PERCY  15YSSHE  SHELLEY 

STANZAS  — Al'RIL.  1.S14 

AwAV  I  the  moor  is  daik  btnieatli  tlu-  moon, 
K;il)i<l  clouds  have  diuuk  the  last  pale  beam  of  evi'ii : 
Away  !   the  {^atheiinjj  winds  will  call  the  darkuens 
soon. 
And  profoiuidt'st  midnight  shroud  the  serene  lights 

of  heaven. 
Pause   not!    the  time  is  past!    Every  voice  cries, 
Away !  ^' 

Tempt  not  with  one  last  tear  thy  friend's  ungentle 

mood : 
Thy  lover's  eye,  so  gla /.ed  and  cold,  dares  not  entreat 

thy  stay : 
Duty  and  dereliction  guide  thee  back  to  solitude. 

Away,  awn    !  to  thy  sad  and  silent  home ; 

Pour  bitter  tears  on  its    .esolated  hearth  ;  lU 

Watch  the  dim  shades  as  like  ghosts  they  go  and 

come 

And  compile;    e  strange  webs  of  melancholy  mirth. 

The  leaves  of  wasted  autumn  woods  shall  float  around 

thine  head, 
The  blooms  of  dewy  Spi  ing  shall  gleam  beneath 
thy  feet : 
But  thy  soul  or  this  world  must  fade  in  the  frost  that 
binds  the  dead,  15 

Ere  midniirht's  frown  and  morning's  smile,  ere  thou 
and  peace,  may  meet. 


or 


••* 


m 


m 


^  TO   COLKhlDCK 

The  cloud  sIkuIows  of  inidiii^nt  possess  tlieir  own 
n'posc, 
F<»r  lln!  weary  wiinls  are  silent,  or  the  moon   is  in 
tlie  deep  • 

^""i"  i"'"^'  its   turhulenee  unresting  oeean 

knows 

Wiiatever  n.      ts,  or  toils,  or  grieves,  hath  its  ap- 

jxtinted  sleep.  ^0 

Thou  in  the  grave  slialt  rest  —  yet,  till  the  phantoms 

flee 
Which  that  house  and  heath  and  garden  made  dear 
to  thee  ere  while, 
Thy  rememhrance,  and  repentance,  and  deep  musings, 

are  not  free 
From   the  nnisie  of  two  voices,  and   the   light  of  ono 
sweet  smile. 


TO  CO LK RIDGE 

AAKPT2I    AIOI2n    nOTMON    AnOTMON 

O,  there  are  spirits  in  the  air. 

And  genii  of  the  evening  breeze. 
And  gentle  ghosts,  with  eyes  as  fair 
As  starheams  among  twilight  trees  :  — 
Such  lovely  ministers  to  meet 
Oft  hast  thou  turned  from  men  thy  lonely  feet. 

AV'ith  mountain  winds,  and  babbliu"'  sl)rin'^s 

And  moonlight  seas,  that  are  the  voice 
Of  these  inexplicable  thinjrs. 

Thou  didst  hold  commune,  and  rejoice 
"When  they  did  answer  thee  :   but  tliev 
Cast,  like  a  worthless  boon,  thy  love  away. 


10 


TO    WOliDSWOUTH 


And  tlum  li;i>t  sought  in  Ktariy  «'Vps 

IVjiiiis  tli;it  were  iu!ver  iiiL-ant  for  thine. 


Aiiotlu'i's  \v»!altli : 


taiiu!  sacrilicc 


15 


T(»  a  fond  faith  I   Still  dost  thou  pine? 
Still  dost  thou  hope  that  j^reetinj;  hands, 
\'oii'e,  looks,  or  lips,  may  answer  thy  demands? 

Ah  I  wherefore  didst  tiiou  hnild  thine  hope 

On  the  false  <!artirs  inconstancy?  li) 

Did  thine  own  mind  atTord  no  scope 
Of  love,  '»r  niovinj;  thoughts  to  thee? 
That  natural  scenes  or  human  smiles 
Could  steal  the  power  to  wind  thee  in  their  wiles. 

Yes,  all  the  faithless  smihs  arc;  fled  25 

Whose  falsehood  hift  thee  liroken-hearted  ; 
The  j^lory  of  the  moon  is  dead  ; 

Night's  ghosts  and  dreams  have  now  departed  : 
Thine  own  soul  still  is  tine  to  thee, 
liut  changed  to  a  foul  fiend  through  misery.  30 

This     jnd,  whose  ghastly  presence  ever 

]k'side  thee  like  thy  shadow  liangs. 
Dream  not  to  chase  ;  —  the  mad  endeavour 
Would  scourge  thee  to  severer  pangs. 
Be  as  thou  art.   Thy  settled  fate,  35 

Dark  as  it  is,  all  change  would  ajr<rravate. 
1815. 

TO  WORDSWORTH 

PoKT  of  Nature,  thou  liast  wept  to  know 

That  things  de])art  which  never  may  return  ; 

Childhood  and  youth,  f riendsliip,  and  love's  first  glow, 
Have  fled  like  sweet  dreams,  leaving  thee  to  mourn. 


m 


t 


A   srMMEh   EVKMXt;   CiniiCIIYAllD 


These  (Mtiniiion  woes  I  feel.  One  loss  is  mine,  5 

Wliioli  tlioii  too  feel'st,  yet  I  alone  deplore  : 
Tlioii  wcrt  as  a  lone  star,  whose  li^lit  did  shine 

On  s((nie  frail  hark  in  winter's  niidni^dit  roar: 
'Jlion  liast  lilv((  to  u  roeU-l>uilt  refuse  s^)  ••' 
Al)ove  the  hlind  and  battlinii;-  nniltitn  10 

Jn  honoui-ed  poveity  thy  voice  did  we: 

Son^s  eonseci-ite  to  truth  and  liberty  ,  — 
Desciinin'  these,  thou  leavest  nie  to  i;rieve, 

Thus  having  been,  that  thou  shouldst  cease  to  be. 
1S15. 


A   SUMMKR    EVENING   CIIl'RCHYARD 


LECIILADi:.    GLOlCKSTEKSIlIIiE 

The  wiiul  has  swept  from  the  wide  atniosj)here 
Kaeh  vapour  that  obscured  the  sunset's  ray; 

And  pallid  evenin<;-  twines  its  beaininn-  hair 

In  duskier  braids  around  the  langiud  eyes  of  day. 

Silence  and  twilij^^ht,  uid)eloved  of  men,  5 

Creej)  hand  in  hand  from  yon  obscurest  glen. 

They  lireathe  their  sjxills  towards  the  di'parting  day, 
Kiicom])assin^'  the  earth,  air,  stars,  and  sea; 

Light,  sound,  and  motion  own  the  ]iotent  swav, 

Kesponding  to  the  cliarm  v.ith  its  own  mystery.     10 

The  winds  are  still,  or  th«.'  ''rv  churcii  towei-  trrass 

Knows  not  their  gentle  ni'  tioiis  as  tlu'y  pass. 


riiou  too,  ac'i'ial  Pile,  whose  iiinnados 


Point  fi'om  one  si 


u'Mie 


lik. 


Ob 


pun 


ram  His  o 


f  fi 


re. 


'V  st  in  silence  their  sweet  nolemn  spells,  15 

Clothing  in  hues  of  he     en  thy  dim  and  distant  spire, 


LINES 

Arouiitl  whose  lesseninf^  and  invisihle  hcijj^ht 
(jatlicr  ainoii'T  the  stars  the  clouds  of  iii^ht. 


! 


The  dead  are  sleei)iiij;'  in  tlieir  sepulchres; 

And,  nioulcU'rini;-  as  they  sleep,  a  thrilling  sound,  'JO 
Half  sense,  half  thought,  among  tlie  darkness  stirs, 

Iheathed  fronj   their  wormy  beds  all  living-  things 
around ; 
And,  mingling  with  the  still  night  and  mute  sky, 
its  awful  hush  is  felt  inaudibly. 

Tims  solemnized  and  softened,  death  is  mild  25 

And  terrorless  as  tiiis  sereiiest  night  : 
Here  could  1  Iiope,  like  some  incniring  child 

Sporting  on  graves,  that  death  did  hide  from  human 
sijiht 
Sweet  secrets,  or  beside  its  breathless  sleep 
That  loveliest  dr'^ams  perpetual  watch  did  keep.       30 

JSi^ptunibur,  181"). 

LINES 

The  cold  earth  slept  below, 
Above  the  cold  sky  shone ; 
And  all  around, 
With  a  chilling  sound. 
From  caves  of  ice  and  fields  of  snow  5 

The  breath  of  night  like  death  did  flow 
lieneath  the  sinking  moon. 

The  wintry  hedge  was  black. 
The  green  grass  was  not  seen, 

Tlie  birds  did  rest  10 

On  the  bare  thorn's  breast. 


( 


n 


1 

-: 

\.. 

\'i 

"■'p 

^   ■ 

f 

■-■*    A 

1 

6 


THE  SUNSET 

Whose  roots,  hoside  the  pathway  track, 
Had  bound  th^-ir  folds  o'er  many  a  crack 
U  liich  the  fiost  had  made  betwee". 

Thine  eyes  j;h)\ved  in  the  ijlare  \- 

Of  the  moon's  dvinf  li<>lif  • 
As  a  fen-fire's  beam 
On  a  .sluggish  stream 
Oleams  dimly  —  so  the  moon  shone  there, 
And  it  yellowed  the  strings  of  tliy  raven  hair, 
That  shook  in  the  wind  of  ni-dit.  21 


Tlie  moon  made  thy  lij.s  i)ale,  beloved ; 
The  wind  made  thy  bosom  chill; 
The  night  did  shed 
On  thy  dear  head 
Its  frozen  dew,  and  thou  didst  lie 
Where  the  bitter  breath  of  the  naked  sky 
Might  visit  thee  at  will. 

NoveiiibtT,  1S15. 


25 


THE   SUNSET 

There  late  was  One,  within  wliosc  subtle  being, 

As  light  and  wind  within  some  delicate  cloud 

That  fades  amid  the  blue  noon's  burnin-r  sky 

Genius  and  death  contended.    None  mav  know 

i  he  sweetness  of  the  jov  which  made  hi's  breath     5 

iMil,  like  the  trances  of  the  summei-  aii. 

When,  with  the  Lady  of  his  love,  who  tlien 

First  knew  the  univserve  of  mingled  being, 

He  walked  along  the  pathway  of  a  field, 

Which  to  the  east  a  hoar  wood  shadowed  o'er,       lo 

iiiit  to  the  west  was  open  to  tlie  sky. 


THE  SUNSET  i 

Tlmro  now  the  sun  liad  sunk,  but  linos  of  ^nUl 
llii.ii;  on  the  ashon  (,'h)U(ls,  and  on  the  pointn 
Of  tiio  far  level  <;rass  an<i  noddiu};  tiowevs, 
And  the  old  dandelion's  hoary  beanl,  15 

And,  mingled  with  the  shades  of  twilig^ht,  lay 
On  the  brown  massy  woods  —  and  in  the  east 
The  l)road  and  burning  moon  lingeringly  rose 
1^'tween  the  blaek  trunks  of  the  crowded  trees, 
Wliile  the  faint  stars  were  gathering  overhead.     20 
■•'  Is  it  not  strange,  Isabel,"  said  the  youth, 
*'  I  never  saw  the  sun  ?    W»i  will  walk  here 
To-morrow ;  thou  shalt  look  on  it  with  me." 

That  night  the  youth  and  lady  mingled  lay 

In  love  and  sleep  —  but  when  the  morning  came  25 

The  lady  found  her  lover  dead  and  cold. 

Let  none  believe  that  (iod  in  mercy  gave 

Tiiat  stroke.    The  lady  died  not,  nor  grew  wild, 

But  year  by  year  lived  on  —  in  truth  I  think 

Her  gentleness  and  patience  and  sad  smiles,  30 

And  that  she  did  not  die,  but  lived  to  tend 

Her  aged  father,  were  a  kind  of  madness, 

If  madness  'tis  to  be  unlike  the  world. 

For  but  to  see  her  were  to  read  the  tale 

Woven  by  some  subtlest  bard,  to  make  hard  hearts 

Dissolvt!  away  in  wisdom-working  grief  ;  —  36 

Her  eyelashes  were  worn  away  with  tears, 

Iler  lips  and  cliceks  were  like  things  dend — so  pale; 

Her  hiinds  were  thin,  and  thrangh  their  wan  ^^ring 

veins 
And  weak  articulations  might  be  seen  40 

Day's  ruddy  light.    The  tond)  of  thy  doad  self 
Which  one  vexed  ghost  inhabits  night  and  day, 
Is  all,  lost  child,  that  now  remains  of  thee ! 


m 


!i- 


■til 

iff 


fi  i. 


,'J 


8 


IIYMX   TO  INTELLECTUAL  BEAUTY 


vo, 


"  Inhoritor  of  more  tliaii  earth  can  <>-i 
r;i,^.si,,nless  calm,  and  silence  nnn). roved,  4.«; 

Whether  the  dead  llnd,  (di,  not  sleep!   hnt  n-st, 
And  are  the  nneoniplainiiij;  things  they  >eem, 
Or  live,  or  drop  in  the  deep  sea  of  Love  ; 

Oh,  that  like  tliine,  mine  ei)itai)h  were Peace!" 

This  was  the  only  moan  she  ever  made.  50 

1810. 


HYMN   TO    INTKLLECTUAL   BEAUTY 

TllK  awful  shadow  of  some  unseen  Wnwr 
Floats  though  unseen  amoufj  us  ;  visiting 
This  various  woild  with  as  inconstant  whijr 

As  summer  winds  that  creep  f,om  Hoover  t<,  Hower. 

Like  moonbeams   that    behind  some   j  .ny  mouL     in 
shower,  _ 

T  .       .  O 

it  visits  with  inconstant  glau   ^ 
Each  human  heart  and  countenanc*  ; 
Like  hues  and  harmonies  of  eveninf, 
Like  clouds  in  starlight  widely  si)read, 
Like  memory  of  music  fled,  ]q 

Like  aught  that  for  its  grace  may  be 

Dear,  and  yet  dearer  for  its  mystery. 

^Spirit  of  IJkattv,  that  dost  consecrate 

With  thine  own  hues  all  thou  dost  shine  upon 
Of  human  thought  or  form,  where  art  thou  gone'>  1.5 
Why  dost  thou  pass  away  and  leave  our  stat^. 
This  dim  vast  vale  of  tears,  vacant  and  desolate? 
Ask  why  the  s-inlight  not  for  «'ver 
Weaves  rainbows  o'er  yon  mountain  river  • 
Whv  aught  shouhl  fail  ami  fade  that  once  is  shown; 
V\  hy  fear  and  dream  and  death  and  birth  21 

Cast  on  the  daylight  of  this  earth 


HYMN   TO   IMKLLKCrrAL   liEAUTY 


9 


Such  j^loom  ;  why  in:in  has  such  a  scope 
Vov  love  and  hatt;,  despoiKh'ncy  aiul  hope. 

No  voice  i  loni  some  suhliiiier  uuilil  hath  ever  2r< 

To  saj^e  or  poet  these  res])onses  j^iven ; 
Tlieiefore  the  names  of  Demon,  (iliost,  and  Heaven, 
Kemain  the  records  of  tlieir  vain  endeavour: 
Frail  spells,  w    ose  uttered  charm  might  not  avail  to 
sever. 
From  all  wv  hoar  and  all  we  see,  30 

I)oul)t,  chance,  and  mutability. 
Thv  Vv^ht  alone,  lilu'  mist  o'er  mountains  driven, 
( 'r  music  by  the  niijjht  wind  sent 
Through  strings  of  some  still  instrument, 
Or  moonliirht  on  a  midniiiht  stream,  ^'i 

Givts  grace  and  truth  to  life's  unquiet  dream. 

Love,  Hope,  and  Self-esteem,  like  clouds,  depart 
And  come,  for  some  uncertain  moments  lent. 
Man  were  inunortal  and  omnipotent, 
Didst  thou,  unknown  ami  awful  as  thou  art,  40 

Keep  with   thy  glorious   train   *irm   state  within   his 
heart. 
Thou  messenger  of  sym])athies 
That  wax  and  wane  in  lovers'  eyes : 
Tliou,  that  to  human  thouglit  art  nourishment, 
Like  darkness  to  a  <lying  flame;  45 

Depart  not  as  thy  shadow  came! 
Depart  not,  lest  the  grave  should  be, 
Like  life  and  fear,  a  dark  reality  ! 

While  y  ■  a  boy,  1  sought  for  ghosts,  and  sped 

Through  many  a  listening  chamber,  cave,  and  ruin, 
And  starlight  wood,  with  fearfid  steps  puj-suing    T)' 


f 


•I 


m 


10 


//r.V.V    TO   ISTKLLKCTUAL   liEAUTY 


Hopos  of  l.i-h  i.ilk  witli  tho  (l(.j)art<'(I  dead  ; 
I  called  oii  iwisonous  iiamos  witli  wjiich  our  youth  is 
fed. 

I  was  -lot  lioard,  I  saw  tliom  not: 
Wlieii,  iiuisii)<r  deeply  on  the  lot  55 

Of  life,  at  that  sweet   tini(>  when  winds  arc  woo- 

All  vital  thini;s  that  wake  to  bring 

News  of  birds  and  Idossoniing, 
Sudden  thy  shadow  fell  on  me : 
1  shrieked,  and  clasped  n.y  hands  in  ecstasy !  60 

I  vowed  that  I  would  dedicate  my  powers 

To  thee  and  thine:  have  I  not  kept  the  vow^ 
With  beating  heart  and  streaming  eves,  even  now 
i  call  the  phantoms  of  a  thousand  hours 
Each  from  his  voiceless  grave:  they  have  in  visioned 
bowers 
Of  studious  zeal  or  love's  delight 
Outwatehed  with  me  the  envious  night: 
They  know  that  never  joy  ilhuned  my^row, 
Unlinked  with  hope  that  thou  wonldst  free 
This  world  from  its  dark  slavery,  70 

That  thou,  O  awful  Lovklinkss, 
Wouldst  give  whate-er  these  words  cannot  express! 

The  day  becomes  more  solemn  and  serene 
When  noon  is  past :  then'  is  a  harmony 
In  autumn,  and  a  lustre  in  its  sky,  75 

Which  through  the  summer  is  not  he'ard  or  seen 
As  if  It  could  not  be,  as  if  it  h:ul  not  been ! 
Thus  let  thy  ])ower,  which  lik«!  the  truth 
Of  nature  on  my  {)assive  youth 
Descended,  to  my  onward  life  sui)ply 


3/O.VT  liLAW 


11 


Its  oalin,  to  Olio  who  worsliips  thee, 
And  every  form  contMiiiiii^;  thee. 
Whom,  Si'iKlT  fair,  tliy  spells  did  hind 
To  fear  himself,  and  love  all  huinankiiKl. 
1810. 

MONT  BLANC 

LINES  WUITTKN  I\  TlIK  VALK  OF  ClIAMOUNI 


The  everhisting  universe  of  thinj^s 

Flows  tluough  the  mind,  and  rolls  its  rapid  waves, 

Now  dark  —  now  <rlitterin<r —  now  retleetinj;  jiloom  — 

Now  lending  splendour,  where  from  secret  sj)rings 

The  source  of  human  thought  its  tribute  brings  5 

Of  waters, —  with  a  sound  but  half  its  own, 

Such  as  a  feeble  brook  will  oft  assume 

In  the  wild  woods,  among  the  mountains  lone, 

Where  waterfalls  around  it  leap  for  ever, 

AVhere  woods  and  winds  contend,  and  a  vast  river    10 

Over  Its  rocks  ceaselessly  bursts  and  raves. 


i      ' 


1 


II 

Thus  thou,  Kavine  of  Arve  —  dark,  deep  Ravine  — 
Thou  many-coloured,  many-voiced  vale. 
Over  whose  pines  and  crags  and  caverns  sail 
Fast  cloud-shadows  and  sunbeams;  awful  scene,       1') 
Where  Power  in  likeness  of  the  Arve  comes  down 
Fr()m  the  ice-gulfs  that  gird  his  secret  throne, 
liur-^tiu"'"  throuiih  these  dark  mountains  like  the  flame 
Of  lightning  thrcnigh  the  teni])est ;  —  thou  dost  lie. 
Thy  giant  brood  of  ])ines  around  thee  (dinging,         JO 
Children  o{  elder  time,  in  whose  devotion 


)  t 


I  ■ 

h 

-i  i 


}    ^^-fj 


12 


MOXr  lil.ASc 


Tl 


!<•  (•li:iirilf>;s  winds  still 


'i\i 


•'"'>"'  aiid  ever  rntne 
'";l"nktlH.ir.M|uu..s.  un.l  th.-ir  nn^l.t  v  .u  in-in- 
'••  '"•■"•       •"'  "Mniid  .s,.lcM,„  l,;,nn.m\":  "     " 

ll.u,....:n.l.ly  ,;.inl.owssfn.t..|,...l;.,-n;ss,lu.sw.rp    -o 
Ot  tiK.  ctlu'n.al  \v:it,M-f;,ll,  ul„.>r  v.il 

Iw.l...ssn,.n.  „nM.„l,..,nv.ii„n;^..;   th.  strange  sloop 
>MMr|,,  ulirn  thf.  v(,i,.,.s  of  the  <l,..s,.,t  fail,    " 
^^  i-ips  all  in  its  ,,\vn  (l,.<.|)  rtcrnity  : 

Tl.yrav..,ns....l,nin^t.>tlH.  .\rv,.-;;..,nMn.,tion 
A  loM.I.  I„n,.  s.M.n.l.  no  ,.tl,e.•so^n,|,^•u,taM.e• 
^  -nart,,.Mva.l..,lwi,l.  tl,atn.as,-l..ssn,o.io„; 
''""•arttl...  ,,at!,  oftl>atnn,rstini,.soniul 
Di/zy  Ravin." :  and  whrn  I  naxc  on  tluv, 
I  sn-nia.  in  a  trance  .sul.lin.c  and  stran-e 
lo  nins,.  on  my  own  separate  fantasy, 
^ly  own.  ,ny  human  mind,  whidi  i)assivdy 
.Now  renders  ami  rtn-eives  fast  InHnen.-in-s, 
Holdin,i,r  an  unrcmittinn^  interclian<--e 
With  the  clear  nniverse  of  things lonnd  : 
One  leomn  of  wild  thon^hts,  whose  wandering  win^^c 
Wfl.,atahov..,hy  darkness,  and  now  rest 

U  here  that  or  thon  art  m,  n.d.idden  guest, 
In  the  still  o.tve  of  the  witch  l>oesv, 

Seeking  au>ono  the  shadows  that  pass  l>v 

M.osts  of  all  things  that  are.  some  shade'of  thee 
Sou,       l.antom.  son.e  fain,  image  :  till  the  breast 

^•'-'»  -l^'^-I'  tl-'V  fled  nvalls  them,  thou  art  there' 


3,'5 


40 


igs 


in 


S.Mne  say  that  gleams  of  a  remoter  world 

\  .s.t  the  sonl  in  sleep.  -  that  death  is  shnnher,        r,n 

Am    that  .tsslK.pes  the  imsy  thoughts  outnumber 

ttl'ose  who  wake  an.l  live.    I  look  on  high; 
lias  some  unknown  (Munipotence  unfurhuf 


Moyi    liLASC 

Tlio  v:ile  of  lifo  aiul  deutli  ?  Or  do  I  lie 

III  dream,  and  docs  tln3  miyliticr  world  of  sleep 

Spread  far  around  and  inaeet,'ssil)ly 

Its  cirejes.-    for  the  very  spirit  fails, 

Driven  lik<'  a  liomeless  eloiid  from  steep  to  steep 

That  vani>hes  ainoni;  the  viewless  _i,Mles  I 


13 


l.h 


60 


65 


Far,  far  aliove,  piereing  the  infinite  sky, 

Mont  IMane  apj)ears,  -     still,  snowy,  anil  serene  — 

Its  sid)ject  mountains  their  unearthly  forms 

Pile  around  it,  iee  and  roeU  ;  broail  vales  between 

()!'  frozen  Hoods,  unfathoniahle  deeps. 

Blue  as  the  overhani;in<;  heaven,  that  spread 

And  wind  amon<;  the  aeetnnulated  steei)s  ; 

A  desert  peopled  hy  the  storms  alone, 

Save  when  the  ea<;le  l>rin<;s  some  hunter's  hone. 

Ami  tiie  wolf  traeks  her  there  —  how  hideously 

Its  shapes  are  heaped  around  I  rude,  hare,  and  hi<,'li,  70 

(Jhastly,  and  searred,  and  riven. —  Is  this  the  seene 

Where  the  old  Karth(piake-d:emon  taught  her  young 

Kuin  ?   Were  these  their  toys?  or  did  a  sea 

Of  fire  envelojje  once  this  silent  snow  ? 

Nt)ne  ean  re]>ly  —  all  seems  eternal  now. 

The  wilderness  has  a  n\ysterious  tongue 

Whieh  teaehes  awful  douht.  or  faith  so  mild, 

So  solemn,  so  serene,  that  man  may  be. 

Hut  for  sueh  faith,  with  nature  reeoneiled: 

Thou  h:ist  a  voiee,  great  Mountain,  to  repeal 

Lar"e  eodes  of  fraud  and  woe  ;  not  understood 

r>y  all,  but  whieh  the  wise,  and  great,  and  good 

Interpret,  or  make  felt,  or  deeply  feel. 


75 


SO 


IV 


The  fields,  the  lakes,  the  forests,  and  the  streams, 
Ocean,  and  all  the  living  things  that  dwell  86 


:zk  --V^ii^,. 


.    J 


'f^ 


t   - 


:>^i 


14 


MONT  II LAN C 


11 


)0 


100 


AN  itlnn  tlu,-  .labial  earth  ;  ]\<^hUuu<r  a,,,!  rain, 
Karth.,„ak,.,  and  (lery  ll„„.l,  an.l  lu.nicaiu., 
J  li.|  toij.„r  ,»f  til,-  vcar  wli.-i,  f.cl,!,.  .ii.ai.is' 
Visit  flic  hi.l.ien  ImmIs,  ,„•  (hvaiiilcss  sl,.i.|, 
JIol.ls..vn-vf„tine]caf..,M.lHnw,.r,-    tl..-  l,o,.,„l 
\  III.  \vlii..h  fiu.n  that  ,I,.tc..st.Ml  trance,  they  haj.  • 
i  he  works  an.I  ways  of  n.an,  their  .Icath  an.i  I.ir'th, 
And  that  of  him,  an.l  all  that  his  inav  l.c  • 
All  thinj^s  that  move  and  breathe  with  toil  and  sound 
Are  horn  and  die,  revolve,  snhside,  and  swell.  'r, 

lowvr  (hvclls  apart  in  its  tran<,nillitv, 
Kemote,  serene,  and  inaeeessil.le  : 
And  t/ds,  the  naked  eoiintenance  of  earth, 
On  which  I  j,raze,  even  these  i.rimeval  monntains, 
leach  the  advertino;  mi,,,].    The  o]a,icrs  ereej. 
l^ike  snakes  that  watch  their  j.rey,  from  their  far 

fountains, 
Slow  rollinjr  o„  ;  there,  many  a  precipice 
Wst  and  the  Snn  in  scorn  of  mortal  power 
Have  piled  -  dome,  pyrami.l,  and  pinnacle, 
A  city  of  death,  distinct  with  many  a  tower 
And  wall  imi.re-nahle  of  beaming-  iee. 
^et  not  a  city,  but  a  Hood  of  ruin 
Is  there,  that  from  the  boundaries  of  the  sky 
K'olls  its  perpetual  stream;   vast  pines  are  strewin- 
ts  .Icstined  ,,atli,  or  in  the  man-led  soil  "no 

Jiranchless   an.l    shatteied   stand  ;    the   rocks,  drawn 
down 

From  yon  remotest  waste,  have  overthrown 
1  he  limits  of  the  dead  and  livin-  world, 
Never  to  be  reclaimed.    The  dweilin-iJace 

()t  insects^  beasts,  ami  birds,  becom:;  its  spoil;       115 
ilieir  food  and  their  retieat  for  ever  -one 
So  much  of  liie  and  joy  is  lost.    The  Tace  ' 


105 


1 


MOST   ML  we 


16 


( )f  iiiuii  fl'u's  far  it)  iliead  ;   liis  work  :ui(l  (Iwclliiig 

Vanish,  lik(!  siiioUf  hi-forc  tli«'  ttiii|i('stV.  -^frcain. 

Ami  tlu-ir  place  is  not  known.     I»«low,  vast  raves     I.O 

Sliine  in  tlic  iiisliinL;  toircnts'  icstlc^s  j^k-ani, 

Wliidi,  from  those  sccirct  chasms  'i;  tiinnilt  wollinj^, 

Mrtt  in  till!  Vale,  anil  oiii!  majcst,,    Kivt'r, 

The  hieath  and  hiood  ot  distant  lands,  for  ever 

Kolls  its  lond  waters  to  the  ocean  waves,  I'JS 

Uieuthes  its  swift  vapours  to  the  cirelinj^  air. 


Mont  Hlanc!  yet  jj^leams  on  hij;h  ;  — the  j)ower  is  there, 
The  still  and  solemn  power,  of  many  si<;hts 
Ami  many  s'Muids,  and  mneh  <»f  life  and  death. 
In  the  calm  darkness  of  the  moonless  nij,dits,  I'M 

In  the  lone  j;lare  of  day,  the  snows  descend 
Upon  that  mountain  ;  none  Ixludds  them  there, 
Nor  when  the  Hakes  burn  in  the  sinking  sun. 
Or  the  star-l)eam>  dart  through  them:  —  Winds  con- 
tend 
Silently  there,  and  heajt  the  snow,  with  breath         135 
Rapid  and  strong,  but  silently  !    Its  home 
The  voiceless  lightning  in  these  solitudes 
Keeps  innocently,  and  like  vapour  broods 
Over  the  snow.    The  secret  strength  of  things 
Which  governs  thought,  and  to  the  inlinite  dome     I  f(i 
( )f  heaven  is  as  a  law,  inhabits  thee  I 
And  what  were  thou,  and  earth,  and  star^,  and  sea. 
If  to  the  human  mind's  imaginings 
Silence  and  solitude  were  vacancy  V 
June  2;;,  181(i. 


¥ 


n 


m  i 


■.^ri 


MICROCOPY    RESOLUTION    TEST    CHART 

ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No    2 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


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Ill  2.8 

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1.4 


I  2.5 

IZ2 

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1.6 


^p^  "153   fas'   Main   Street 

r.=  -    Chester.    Ne«    York         14609        U^ 

=  16)   48?  -  0300  -  Phone 

=:  16)   288  -  5989  -  Fa% 


'«««miLi,,i     I 


IG 


TO   CUNSTANTIA.    SLXGING 


r'-O  CONSTANTIA,  SINGING 

Thus  to  be  lost  and  thus  to  sink  and  die, 

Perchance  were  death  indeed  ! —Con^tantia,  turn! 

In  tliy  dark  eyes  a  jmwer  like  lij^ht  doth  lie, 

p]ven  though  the  soundi?  which  were  thy  voice,  which 
burn 

Between  thy  lips,  are  laid  to  sleep;  5 

Within  thy  breath  and  on  thy  hair,  like  odour  it  is 
yet, 

And  from  thy  touch  like  fire  doth  leap. 

Even  while  I  write,  my  burning  cheeks  are  wet, 
Alas,  that  the  torn  heart  can  bleed,  but  not  for"-et ! 

A  breathless  awe,  like  the  swift  change  10 

Unseen  but  felt  in  youthful  slumbers, 
A\  ild,  sweet,  but  uncomnnuiicably  strano-e. 

Thou  breathest  now  in  fast  ascending  numbers. 
The  cope  of  heaven  seems  rent  and  cloven 

By  the  enchantment  of  thy  strain,  15 

And  on  my  shoulders  wings  are  woven, 

To  follow  its  sublime  career. 
Beyond  the  mighty  moons  tliat  wane 

Ujton  the  verge  of  natiire's  utmost  sphere, 

Tdl  tht!  world's  shadowy  walls  are  past  and  disap- 
pear. 

Iler  voice  is  liovering  o'er  my  soul  —  it  lingers         21 
O'ershadowing  it  witli  soft  and  lulling  wings. 

The  blood  and  life  within  those  snowv  fim^ers 
ieacli  Witchcraft  to  the  instrumental  strings. 

My  brain  is  wild,  my  breath  comes  quick 25 

The  blood  is  listening  in  my  frau'e. 

And  thronging  shadows,  fast  and  thick, 


SONNET  —  OZA'MANDIAS 

Fall  on  my  overHowinf?  eyes; 
My  heart  is  (|uivering  like  a  Haine ; 

As  morning  dew,  that  in  the  sunbeam  dies, 
I  am  dissolved  in  these  consuming  ecstasies. 


17 


30 


35 


4t> 


I  have  no  life,  Constantia,  now,  l)nt  thee. 

Whilst,  like  the  world-surrounding  air,  thy  song 

Flows  on,  and  fills  all  things  with  melody. 
Now  is  thy  voice  a  tempest  swift  and  strong, 

On  which,  like  one  in  traroe  upborne, 
Se(!ure  o'er  rocks  and  waves  I  Svveep, 

Keioicinir  like  a  cloud  of  morn  ; 

Now  'tis  the  breath  of  summer  night, 

Which,  when  the  starry  waters  sleep 

Kound  western  isles  with  incense-blossoms  bright, 
Lingering,  suspends  my  soul  in  its  voluptuous  Hight. 
1817. 

SONNET  —  OZYM  ANDIAS 

I  MET  a  traveller  from  an  antique  land 

Who  said  :  "  Two  vast  and  trunkless  legs  of  stone 
Stand  in  the  desert.    Near  them,  on  the  sand. 

Half  sunk,  a  shattered  visage  lies,  whose  frown, 
And  wrinkled  lip,  and  sneer  of  cold  eonnnand,  5 

Tell  that  its  sculptor  well  those  passions  read 

Which  yet  survive,  stamped  on  these  lifeless  things, 
The  hand  that  mocked  them  and  the  heart  that  fed ; 
And  on  tlie  pedestal  these  words  appear: 

'  My  name  is  Ozymandias,  king  of  kings  : 
Look  on  my  works,  ye  Mighty,  and  desi)airl' 

Notiiing  beside  rcjuains.    Kound  the  decay 
Of  that  colossal  wreck,  boundless  and  bare, 

The  lone  and  level  sands  stretch  far  away." 
IS  17. 


rii 


10 


1£: 


i":b 


i  Ml 


•  I 


.a; 


18 


LINE     TO  A   CRITIC 


LINES 

That  time  is  dead  for  evor,  eliild, 
Drowned,  fro/en,  dead  for  ever! 

We  look  on  the  i)ast, 

And  stare  af^hast 
At  tlie  spectres  wailing,  pale,  and  gliast, 
Of  hopes  which  thou  and  I  heguiled 

To  death  on  life's  dark  river. 

The  stream  we  gazed  on  then,  rolled  by  ; 
Its  waves  are  nnreturninff; 

lint  we  yet  stand 

In  a  lone  land. 
Like  tombs  to  mark  the  memory 
Of  hopes  and  fears  which  fade  and  fly 

In  the  liglit  of  life's  dim  morning. 

November  5,  1817. 


10 


LINES  TO  A  CRITIC 

Honey  from  silkworms  who  can  gather, 
Or  silk  from  the  yellow  bee  ? 

The  grass  may  grow  in  winter  weather 
As  soon  as  hate  in  me. 

Hate  men  who  cant,  and  men  who  pray, 
And  men  who  rail  like  thee; 

An  equal  ])assion  to  repay,  — 
Tliey  are  not  coy  like  me. 

Or  seek  some  slave  of  power  and  gold, 
To  be  thy  dear  heart's  mate , 


10 


ON   A   FADED    VIOLET 


19 


Thy  love  will  iiiovo  that  bigot  cold, 
Sooner  than  mo  thy  hate. 

A  jiassion  like  the  one  I  prove 

(  'aiuiot,  (livi<h'(l  be  ; 
J  iiate  thy  want  of  truth  and  love —  15 

I  low  should  I  then  hate  tiiee? 

I)t'cciiil)ir,  1S17. 

PASSAGE   OF  THE  APENNINES 

Listen,  listen,  Mary  mine. 
To  the  whisper  of  the  Apennine  ; 
It  bursts  on  the  roof  like  the  thunder's  roar, 
Or  like  the  sea  on  a  northern  shore. 
Heard  in  its  raginj;  ebb  and  flow  6 

By  the  captives  pent  in  the  cave  below. 
The  Apennine  in  the  light  of  day 
Is  a  mighty  mountain  dim  and  gray. 
Which  between  the  earth  and  sky  doth  lay  ; 
But  when  night  comes,  a  chaos  dread  10 

On  the  dim  starlight  then  is  spread. 
And  the  Apennine  walks  abroad  with  the  storm. 
May  4,  1818. 


ON   A    FADED   VIOLET 

The  odour  from  the  flower  is  gone 

Which  like  thy  kisses  breathed  on  me ; 

The  colour  from  the  flower  is  flown 
"Which  glowed  of  thee  and  only  thee ! 

A  shrivelled,  lifeless,  vacant  form, 
It  lies  on  my  abandoned  breast, 


20      WRITTEW   .1.VO.V.7    THE  El  HAXEAX   HILLS 

And  mocks  tlio  heart  wliidi  yot  is  warm, 
With  cold  and  silent  rest. 


I  \\vv]\  —  tny  trars  revive;  it  not  I 

I  siL,fh, —  it  l))eathes  no  more  on  mo; 
Its  mute  and  iineom})lainiiif;-  Jot 

Is  such  as  mine  slionid  l)e. 

isis. 


10 


LINES   WRITTEN    AMONCJ    THE    EUGANEAN 

HILLS 

Many  a  green  isle  needs  must  be 
In  the  deej)  wide  sea  of  misery, 
Or  the  mariner,  worn  and  wan, 
Never  thus  could  vovajre  on 
Day  and  niulit,  and  night  and  day, 


Drift 


lUiT  on 


his  d 


AVith  the  solid  darli 


reary  way. 


ness 


black 


Closing  round  his  vessel's  track  ; 
AVhilst  above,  the  sunless  sky, 
Hig  with  clouds,  hangs  heavily ; 
And  behind,  the  tempest  fieet 
Hurries  on  with  lightning  feet, 
Kiving  sail,  ami  cord,  and  ])lank, 
Till  the  shiji  has  almost  drank 
Death  from  the  o"er-brinuning  deep, 
And  sinks  down,  down,  like  that  sleep 
When  the  dreamer  seems  to  bo 
Weltering  through  eternity; 
And  the  dim  low  line  before 
Of  a  dark  and  distrint  shore 
Still  i'eced(>s,  as  ever  still 
Longing  v.llh  divided  wiii, 


10 


15 


20 


I 


li 


WRITTEN  AMOya    THE  EU<iANEAN  HILLS     21 


lint  no  power  to  seek  or  shun, 

He  is  evei'  drifted  on 

()"er  the  nnieposini;  wave 

To  till'  liaven  of  the  t^rave. 

Wliat  if  tlieie  no  fiieiids  will  greet; 

What  if  tliere  no  heart  will  meet 

His  with  love's  impatient  heat; 

AVander  wheresoe'er  he  may. 

Can  he  dream  before  that  day 

T-j  find  refuge  from  distress 

In  friendship's  smile,  in  love's  caress? 

Then  'twill  wreak  him  little  woe 

Whether  such  there  be  or  no : 

Senseless  is  the  breast,  and  cold, 

Which  relenting  love  would  fold; 

Bloodless  are  the  veins  and  chill 

Which  the  pulse  of  i)ain  did  fill ; 

Every  little  living  nerve 

That  from  bitter  words  did  swerve 

Round  the  tortured  Imik,  and  brow, 

Are  like  sapless  leaflets  now 

Frozen  upon  December's  bough. 

On  the  beach  of  a  northern  sea 
Which  tempests  shake  eternally, 
As  once  the  wretch  there  lay  to  sleep, 
Lies  a  solitary  heap. 
One  white  skull  and  seven  dry  bones, 
On  the  margin  of  the  stones, 
Where  a  few  gray  rushes  stand, 
Boundaries  of  the  sea  and  land: 
Nor  is  heard  one  voice  of  wail 
But  the  seamews,  as  they  sail 


.-,.1. 


0.1        1   -ii  r  xi-  .    I..  . 

er  liiu  uiiio>\s  oi  Liii;  ji **''''  ' 


25 


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40 


45 


50 


55 


•   "  'fit 


i3' 


^i  i 


00 


^      WRITTEN   AMoyc    THE  EUdASEAN  HILLS 

Or  the  wliirlwiml  up  and  down 
I!()\vliii;:r,  like  Ji  shiuj^htuiod  town, 
When  a  Idng-  in  glory  rides 
Throngh  the  pomp  of  fratricides: 
Those  unhuried  hones  around 
There  is  many  a  mourn Ful  sound  ; 
There  it:  no  lament  for  him, 
Like  a  sunless  vapour,  dim, 
WIio  onee  clothed  with  life  and  thought 
What  now  moves  nor  murmurs  not. 

Ay,  many  flowerinn^  islands  lie 

In  the  waters  of  wide  A<;ony: 

To  such  a  one  this  morn  was  led 

My  l)ark,  by  soft  winds  ])iIoted. 

'Mid  the  mountains  Enyanean, 

I  stood  listening  to  the  jnean 

With  which  the  Icgioned  rooks  did  hail 

The  Sim's  uprise  majestical ; 

Gathering  round  with  wings  all  lioar, 

Through  the  dewy  mist  they  soar 

Like  gray  shades,  till  the  eastern  heaven 

Bursts,  and  then,  as  clouds  of  even, 

Flecked  with  lire  and  azure,  lie 

In  the  unfathomable  sky, 

So  their  plumes  of  purple  grain. 

Starred  with  drojjs  of  golden  rain, 

Gleam  above  the  sunlight  woods, 

As  in  silent  multitudes 

On  the  morning's  fitful  gale 

Through  the  broken  mist  they  sail, 

And  the  va])ours  cloven  and  gleamino- 

Follow  down  the  dark  steep  streaming- 

T;ij  .,11  ;..  \...:.A  L  1     ,  ,       ...  °' 

-i.ii  «ii  i-  uMg.ii,  iiiiu  Clear,  imu  stiii 

V 1  *'■  .     j;. i,;ii 


GO 


05 


70 


80 


85 


i) 


WRITTEN   AMOSC    THE   f:U<;.\SEAN   IIILLS 
Btii't'citli  is  spii'iid  like  :i  grt-en  sea 


)h 


)f  Lonihiirily, 


waveie 
ounded  by  the  va{)()ious  air, 


Tl 

n 

Islaiuled  by  cities  fair. 
UiultM-neatli  day's  azr.re  eyes, 
Ocean's  nnrsliiii;,  Venice  lies, — 
A  peopled  labyrinth  of  walls, 
Anipliitrite's  destined  balls. 
Which  her  hoary  sire  now  paves 
AVitli  his  blue  and  beaniinj;'  waves. 
Lol   the  sun  upsprini;s  behind, 
15road,  retl,  radiant,  lialf-reclined 
On  the  level  (piiverinj^  line 
Of  the  waters  crystalline  : 
And  biifore  that  chasm  of  liylit, 
As  within  a  furiuice  brij;ht. 
Column,  tower,  and  dome,  and  spire. 
Shine  like  obelisks  of  fire, 
I'ointing  with  inconstant  motion 
From  the  altar  of  dark  ocean 
To  the  sapphire-tinted  skies  ; 
As  the  flames  of  sacrifice 
From  the  marble  shrines  did  rise, 
As  to  pierce  the  dome  of  fijold 
Where  Apollo  spoke  of  old. 

Sun-girt  City  !  thou  hast  been 
Ocean's  child,  and  then  his  queen; 
Now  is  come  a  darker  day, 
And  thou  soon  must  be  his  prey. 
If  the  i)ower  that  raised  thee  here 
Hallow  so  thy  watery  bier. 
A  less  drear  ruin  then  than  now, 

*>  itii  tiiy  cOimUcSt-OraiiuOu   OiOW 


23 


00 


95 


luu 


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110 


115 


120 


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i 


.  It 
I 


!■   i 


«    ■■ 

IS: 


24     wniTTKy  AMoxt;  Tin:  hi(;.\\EAN  hills 

St()()j)iii;^  to  tin;  shivi'  of  slaves 
From  tliv  tliroiic.  :iiiioii<(  tin-  waves 


If  siaiiiew 


Wilt  tlioii  lu',  wlic'ii  tl 
Flies,  as  oiict-  Itcfon-  it  flew, 
O'er  thine  isles  (lepopulate, 
Aihi  all  is  ill  its  ancient  state, 
Save  where  inaiiv  a  palaee-^ato 
\\  itii  "rreeii  sea-tlowt-rs  overirrown 


I 


jiKe  a  r()( 


k  of 


(H-ean  s  own. 


Topjiles  o'ei'  the  abandoned  sea 
As  the  tides  change  snllenly. 
The  fisher  on  his  watery  wav, 
AVanderlnj;'  at  the  close  of  day. 


Will 


spread  his  sai 


1  and 


seize  his  oar. 


Till  he  ])ass  the  i^^loonjy  sh()re. 
Lest  the  dead  should,  from  their  sleep 
liurstinj;  o'er  the  starlight  deep, 
Lead  a  rapid  inas(pie  of  death 
O'er  the  waters  of  his  j)ath. 


l-V 


VM) 


135 


110 


I  i 


Those  who  alone  thy  towers  behold 
Qnivering  thronf^h  ai-rial  j;'<'l<l, 
As  I  now  behold  them  here. 
Would  imaj,nne  not  they  were 
Sepulchres,  where  luiman  forms, 
Like  pollution-nourished  worms, 
To  the  corpse  of  f^reatness  clin<;, 
Murdered  and  now  mouldei-in"- : 
But  if  Freedom  should  awake 
In  her  omnipotence,  and  shake 
From  the  Celtic  Anarch's  hold 
All  the  keys  of  dungeons  cold, 
Where  a  hundred  cities  Wo 


145 


150 


155 


I 


WlilTTK.y   .\M<).\<;    THE   KraASEAN   HILLS 

Thoii  and  all  tliy  sister  hand 

Mij^lit  adorn  tliin  sunny  land, 

TwiiiinL;"  nit'nn)rics  of  old  tiino 

AV'ith  new  virtut'S  more  sublime; 

If  not,  perish  thou  and  they  ; 

Clouds  which  stain  truth's  rising  day 

l\y  her  sun  consumed  away. 

Earth  can  spare  ye;  while  like  flowers, 

Jn  the  waste  of  years  and  hours. 

From  your  dust  nc    nations  spring 

'With  more  kindly  blossonnng. 


2.5 


IGO 


IG5 


i 


Perish  !  let  there  only  be 

Floating  o'er  thy  hearthless  sea, 

As  the  garment  of  thy  sky 

Clothes  the  world  immortaMy,  170 

One  remembrance,  more  sublime 

Than  the  tattered  jiall  of  Time, 

"Which  scarce  hides  thy  visage  wau: 

That  a  tempest-cleaving  swan 

Of  the  songs  of  Albion,  175 

Driven  from  his  ancestral  streams 

By  the  might  of  evil  dreams, 

Found  a  nest  in  thee  ;  and  ocean 

Welcomed  him  with  such  emotion 

That  its  joy  grew  his,  and  sprung  180 

From  his  lips  like  music  flung 

O'er  a  mighty  thunder-lit. 

Chastening  terror :   what  though  yet 

Poesy's  unfailing  river, 

"Which  thiou;;;h  Albion  winds  for  ever,     1&5 

Lashing  with  melodious  wave 

^lany  a  sacred  poet's  grave, 

■»  f  -i  _  i_  j._   i.  i: jj..,l  t 


;:( 


tf 


' 

I 

) 

m 

20     117.7 /•77;.v    i.vovf,'   riih:  Kr(;.\M:  i.y  lULLs 

What  tli.)iii;li  thou  with  :ill  thy  ilfa.l 
Sc:»rc(,'  can  for  tliis  faint'  repay 
Alight  tliiiif  own.     -  oil,  lathtT  sav, 
Though  tliy  ,Nin>  and  .shivcrics  foul 
Overcloud  a  suniilic  soid  ! 
As  the  L;host  of  Ilouicr  clinLjs 
Jioiiiid  Scauiaiidcr's  waNtiiiL;  sprin-^s 
As  diviiH'st  ShakHsj),.;ii»''s  \u\'j\\t 
Fills  Avon  and  the  world  witii  li-lit. 
Like  oniniscicnt  power,  wliith  he 
Iina,i,'('d  "mill  inortalitv: 
As  the  love  from  IN'tiarch's  urn 
"iet  amid  yon  hills  doth  i»urri, 
A  (pienchless  lamp,  by  which  th.-  heart 
Sees  things  unearthly  :  so  thou  art, 
Mi-hty  spirit  :   so  shall  l)e 
The  city  that  did  refu'-e  thee. 


Lo.  the  sun  floats  uj)  the  sky, 
Like  thon;iht-wiiiL;ed  Liberty, 
Till  the  universal  li^iht 
Seems  to  level  i)]aiu  and  hei-ht  ; 
From  the  sea  a  mist  has  spread, 
AmX  the  beams  of  morn  lie  dead 
On  the  toners  of  \'eniee  now, 
Like  its  j;lory  loui,''  a^o. 
By  the  skirts  of  that  -ray  cloud 
Many-domed  Padua  proud 
Stands,  a  peopled  solitude, 
'Mid  the  barvest-shining  plain. 
Where  the  poasmt  heaps  his  -rain 
Li  the  garner  of  his  foe, 
And  the  milk-white  oxen  slow 
purple  vintage  strain, 


I'JU 


VM 


•JOO 


;oo 


no 


215 


<•  ilii    tUc 


220 


WIUTTKX   AMt).\(; 


/■  T',   I.VA  I.V    IIIL[.> 


IIc.'ipcil  iipon  tin-  crr.ikiiiL:  wviiii, 
Tliitt  till-  linit:il  (  '<■]{  iiiav  swill 
Driiiikcri  >lrt|)  Willi  >;iv:i'4('  will; 
And  tilt'  Mc.Jf  t(»  tlie  sword 
liicH  mii'liaiii^^cd,  tlidiiuli  iiiiiiiv  a  lord, 
LiU»'  a  wt'L'd  wliosc  sIkkU;  is  |ioi.soii, 
Overcrows  this  rc^non's  foisoii. 
Sheaves  ot  wlioiii  are  ripi;  to  eonie 
To  de.striu'tioirs  liarvestdioinc  : 
Men  must  reap  tin;  tilings  tliev  sow, 
Force  from  foicc  mii^t  evei'  ilow, 
Or  worse;   hut  "t  is  a  liitter  wot; 
That  love  or  reason  cannot  chaiitre 
The  despot's  rage,  the  slave's  revenge. 


.';{() 


li 


^ 


L'.-?; 


Padua,  thou  withia  uliose  walls 

Those  ninte  guests  at  festivals. 

Son  and  Mother,  Death  and  Sin, 

Played  at  dice  for  Kzzelii), 

Till  Death  cried,  "  I  win.  1  win!"  210 

And  Sin  cursed  to  lose  the  watier. 

Put  Death  ])roniised,  to  assuage  her, 

That  he  would  petition  for 

Her  to  he  ma(h'  Vice-Km|)eror, 

^^  hen  the  destined  years  were  o'er,  '_Mr> 

Over  all  hetween  the  Po 

And  the  eastern  Al])ine  snow, 

l^uler  the  mighty  Austrian. 

Sin  smiled  so  as  Sin  oidv  can. 

And,  since  th;it  tim<'.  ay,  long  before,        25(J 

Both  have  ruled  from  sliore  to  shore, 

That  incestuous  pair,  who  follow 

Tyrants  as  tlie  sun  tlit;  swallow, 

As  Kepentance  follows  Crime, 

And  ;)s  c]i;ni"-e->  follow  Time,  '2r>" 


FF 


(^! 


I 


28       WniTTEN  AMONG    THE  EUdANEAX   HILLS 


In  tliino  lialls  the  laiiiji  of  kariiii 
Lik 


'g» 


;i(tu;',  ni)\v  no  nioitj  is  buininir; 


e  a  meteor 


\vl 


lose  \vi 


1(1 


iiy 


Is  lost  over  the  f;r:ive  of  day 

It  lijleanis  betrayed  and  to  betray 


2G0 


() 


nee  remotest  nations  came 


To  adore  that  sacred  llaine, 

A\  hen  it  lit  not  many  a  hearth 

On  tills  eold  and  jj^looiny  earth  ; 

Now  new  lires  from  anti(|iie  liiiht  2tJ5 

Si)riiii;-  be.ieath  the  wide  world's  iui<jht ; 

But  their  spark  lies  dead  in  thee, 

Trampled  out  by  tyranny. 

As  the  Norway  woodman  quells, 

In  the  dei)th  of  i)iiiy  dells,  270 

One  light  llanie  among  the  brakes, 

AVhile  the  boundless  forest  shakes, 

And  its  mighty  trunks  are  torn 

I\v  tile  file  thus  lowlv  born  — 

The  sp'iik  iteiieath  his  feet  is  dead,  275 

He  starts  to  see  the  Haines  it  fed 

Howling  through  the  darkened  sky 

A\  ith  myriad  tongues  vietoriouslv. 

And  sinks  down  in  fear :  so  thou, 

O  tyranny  !   beholdest  now  280 

Light  around  thee,  and  thou  liearcst 

The  loud  Hames  ascend,  and  fearest : 

Cirovel  on  the  earth  :  ay.  hide 

In  the  dust  thy  jiurple  jiride  I 


Noon  descends  around  me  now  : 
'T  is  the  noon  of  autumirs  glow, 
A\  hen  a  soft  and  ])ur])le  mist 

Lilce  n   v.-nwu'ona  .'imct  li\-c(- 


285 


WRITTEN   AMOX(;    THE  EUdANEAN  HILLS      29 


It 


Or  an  air-dissolvtnl  star 
Miiiuliii":  li<rlit  and  fraiiranro,  far 
From  the  curved  horizon's  bound, 


To  th( 


)01I1 


t  of 


leavcn  s  proiounc 


d. 


Fills  tlie  ovrrilou  iiii:;  sky  : 

And  tlie  plains  tiiat  siii'iit  lie 

I'^nderneath.    Tlui  leaves  unsodden 

Whcire  the  infant  frost  has  trodden 

With  his  morning-winged  feet, 

Whose  bright  print  is  gleaming  yet ; 

And  the  red  and  goldeji  vines, 

Piercing  with  their  trellised  lines 

The  rough,  dark-skirted  wilderness  ; 

The  dun  and  bladed  grass  no  less, 

Pointing  from  this  hoary  tower 

In  the  winiUess  air  ;  the  flower 

Gliinmering  at  my  fi-et ;  the  line 

Of  the  olive-sandalled  Apennine 

In  the  south  dimly  islanded  ; 

And  the  Alps,  whose  snows  are  spread 

High  between  the  clouds  and  sun  ; 

And  of  living  things  each  one  ; 

And  my  sj)irit,  which  so  long 

Darkened  this  swift  stream  cf  song, 

Interpenetrated  lie 

By  the  glory  of  the  sky : 

Be  it  love,  light,  harmony, 

Odour,  or  the  soul  of  all 

Wiiich  from  lieaveTi  like  dew  doth  fall, 

Or  the  mind  whie'i  feeds  tiiis  verse 


liu'T  the  1 


eoplmg 


one  universe. 


Noon  descends,  and  after  noon 
Autumns  evening  meets  me  soon. 


200 


205 


300 


305 


310 


316 


320 


li  I 


H 


i      ! 


•         f 


.1 


i     "  \ 


.lit 
m 


1^ 


:-'fj 


80       WRITTEN  AMONC    THK   EH; AN E AX  HILLS 

Lradiiii;  tlio  infantine  moon, 
And  tliat  one  star,  wliieli  to  liur 
Ahno.-t  sfcnis  to  minister 
Halt  tlie  t-rinison  li^ht  slie  bi'in^-s 
From  tlie  sunset's  ladiant  springs: 
And  the  soft  dreams  of  the  morn 
(Wliieh  like  winded  winds  had  borne, 
To  tiiat  silent  isle,  whieh  lies 
Mid  lememhered  ationies. 
The  frail  baik  of  this  lone  hi'inii), 
Pass,  to  other  sufferers  fleeini^', 
And  its  ancient  ])ilot.  Pain, 
Sits  beside  the  lielm  ajiain. 


330 


Other  flowerinii:  isles  must  be  335 

In  the  sea  of  life  and  aj;()ny  : 

Other  spirits  Hoat  and  flee 

O'er  that  «;nlf :  even  now,  perhaps, 

On  some  roek  the  wild  wave  wraps. 

With  folded  wings  the}-  waiting  .sit  340 

I'or  my  bark,  to  pilot  it 

To  some  calm  and  bloonnng  eove. 

Where  for  me,  and  those  I  love, 

May  a  windless  bower  be  Imilt, 

Far  from  })assion,  pain,  and  guilt,  345 

In  a  dell  'mid  lawny  hills. 

Which  the  wild  sea-nmrnnir  fills, 

And  soft  sunshine,  and  the  sound 

()f  old  forests  echoing  round, 

And  the  light  and  smell  divine  350 

Of  all  flowers  tliat  bi'eathe  and  sliine. 

^Ve  may  live  so  hajipv  there 

That  the  spirits  of  the  air, 

Env 


■J  -"o 


'•V 


» eii  eiicii.'c 


STANZAS 


31 


.  ()  our 


lioal 


i"S  P 


iriulise 


The  polluting  multitude 


SUI)( 


luL'd 


in. 


But  their  rage  would  be 

By  that  clime  divine  and  cal 

And  the  winds  whose  wiuL^s  rain  balm 

On  the  uplifted  soul,  and  leaves 

Under  wlueh  the  bright  s(!a  heaves  ; 

While  each  brt;athless  interval 

In  their  whisperings  music 


lal 


Th 


lusp 


ured  sou 


1  sujipl 


les 


"With  its  own  deep  melodies, 
lAnd  the  love  which  heals  all  strife, 
Circling,  like  the  breath  of  life, 
All  things  in  that  sweet  abode 
"With  its  own  mild  brotherhood. 
They,  not  it,  would  change :  and  soon 
Every  sprite  beneath  the  moon 
"Would  repent  its  envy  vain, 
And  the  earth  grow  young  again. 

October,  ISIS. 


300 


.■iOf) 


370 


ii 


i:|1 


STANZAS 


WRITTEN    IN    DEJECTION.  NEAR    NAPLES 

The  sun  is  warm,  the  sky  is  clear. 

The  waves  are  dancing  fast  and  bright, 
Blue  isles  and  snowy  mountains  wear 

Tiie  purple  noon's  transparent  might; 

The  breath  of  the  moist  earth  is  light, 
Around  its  unexpanded  buds  : 

Tjike  many  a  voice  of  one  delight. 

The  winds,  the  birds,  the  ocean-floods, 
m.      ^^..    <_        •       •.      If  • fj.  i:i.„  c„i:(..,.i,^'^ 

Xiie   V..lts    n    vOiCU   itSi.il.   V.I  bUit   iiivt,   .^-uulisuc  3, 


32 


STAXZAS 


I  SCO  tlio  Dooj)'.s  untrainplod  floor  k, 

Witli  f^reon  and  p.nple  seaweeds  ■  trown  ; 
I  see  tlie  waves  upon  tlie  sliore, 

Lilce  H-l,t  .lissoh-e.l  in  star-sliowers,  thrown  ; 

1  sit  upon  the  sands  alone, 
The  lio-litninir  „f  the  noontide  ooean  15 

Is  flasliinu-  r,,„n(l  nie,  and  a  tone 
Arises  from  its  measured  motion, 
How  sweet!  did  any  heart  now  share  in  iny  emotion. 

Ahis!  I  have  nor  hope  nor  health, 

Nor  peace  within  nor  calm  around,  20 

Nor  that  content  surpassing  wealth 

The  saj^e  in  meditation  found, 

And  walked  with  inward  glory  crowned,— 
Nor  fame,  nor  power,  nor  love,  nor  leisure. 

Others  I  see  wlionj  thei^ii  surround  ;  05 

Smiling  they  live,  and  call  life  pleasure  ; 
To  me  that  cup  has  I.een  dealt  in  another  measure. 

Yet  now  despair  itself  is  mild, 

Even  as  the  winds  and  waters  are ; 

I  could  lie  down  like  a  tired  child,     '  30 

And  weej)  away  the  life  of  care 
Which  I  have  borne,  and  yet  must  bear, 

Tdl  death  like  sleej)  might  steal  on  me, 
And  I  might  feel  in  the  warm  air 

My  cheek  grow  cold,  and  hear  the  sea 
Breathe  o'er  my  dying  brain  its  last  monotony. 

Some  miglit  lament  that  I  were  cold. 

As  I  when  this  sweet  day  is  oone. 
Which  niy  lost  heart,  too  soon  grown  old, 

Insulla  with  this  untimely  moan ;  40 


35 


: 


LiyES    TO   AX   IXDLiy   AIR  33 

They  iiiiglit  lament  —for  I  am  one 
Whom  men  love  not  —  and  yet  regret, 

Unlike  this  day,  which,  when  the  sun 
Shall  on  its  stainless  glory  set,  44 

Will  linger,  though  enjoyed,  like  joy  in  memory  yet. 
DecBiuber,  IS  IS. 


LINES   TO    AN    INDIAN    AIR 

I  ARISE  from  dreams  of  thee 

In  the  first  sweet  sleep  of  night, 

When  the  winds  are  breathing  low, 

And  the  stars  are  shining  bright. 

I  arise  from  dreams  of  thee,  5 

And  a  spirit  in  my  feet 

lias  led  me  —  who  knows  how?  — 

To  thy  chamber-window,  sweet! 

The  wandering  airs  they  faint 

On  the  dark,  the  silent  stream ;  10 

The  ehampak  odours  fail 

Like  sweet  thoughts  in  a  dream ; 

The  niglitineah^'s  complaint, 

It  dies  ui)on  her  heart, 

As  I  mu<t  die  on  tliine  16 

O  beloved  as  thou  art ! 

0  lift  me  from  the  grass ! 

1  die,  I  faint,  I  fail ! 

TiCt  thv  love  in  kisses  rain 

On  my  lips  and  eyelids  pale.  20 

My  cheek  is  cold  and  white,  alas! 

illy  Ucarc  ueiiiib  louu  uiiLi  itioii, 


I 


34  SOXG—TO    THE   MK.X    oF   KSf.LAXI) 

i)  '.  i)ress  it  close  to  tliiiie  af    'n, 
Where  it  will  Iji-eak  at  last. 
1S19. 


LOVE'S    PHILOSOPHY 

Tin:  fouiitaiDs  iiiiiii;!f  with  the  river, 

And  the  rivers  with  the  ocean  ; 
The  winds  of  heuvi'ii  mix  for  ever 

With  a  sweet  emotion  : 
Nothing  in  the  worhl  is  sinnle  ; 

All  things  by  a  law  divine 
In  one  another's  heiiM--  niin"le  : 

Why  not  1  with  thine? 

See  the  mountains  kiss  high  heaven, 

And  the  waves  clasp  one  another; 
No  sister  flower  would  l)e  forgiven 

If  it  disdained  its  brother; 
And  the  sunlight  elasi)s  the  earth. 

And  the  moonbeams  kiss  the  seu: 
What  are  all  these  kissings  worth, 

If  thou  kiss  not  me  ? 
ism. 


10 


15 


SONG -TO   THI-:    MEN    OF   ENGLAND 

j\Ikn  of  England,  wherefore  plough 
For  the  lords  who  lay  ye  low  ? 
Wherefore  wt-ave  witli  toil  and  eare 
The  rich  roljcs  your  tyiants  wear? 

Wherefore  feed,  and  clothe,  and  save, 
Lrout  the  cradle  to  the  grave, 


1 


SONG  —  TO    THE  MEN   OF  EXCLAND 


35 


Those  Tini^ratct'iil  diorn's  who  would 

Drain  your  sweat — nay,  diink  your  hl()od  ? 

Wherefore.  lices  of  Kni^land,  forire 

Alany  a  weapon,  chain,  and  scoui"L;t>,  10 

That  these?  stintless  drones  may  spoil 

The  forced  produce  of  your  toil? 

Have  ye  leisure,  comfort,  calm, 

Shelter,  food,  love's  gentle  Iiahn? 

Or  what  is  it  ye  liny  so  dear  15 

With  your  pain  and  with  your  fear? 

The  seed  ye  sow,  another  reaps  ; 

The  wealth  ye  find,  another  keeps; 

The  rohes  ye  weave,  another  wears; 

The  arms  ye  forge,  another  bears.  20 

Sow  seed,  —  but  le*^  no  tyrant  reap  ; 
Find  wealth,  —  let  no  impostor  hea]) ; 
Weave  robes,  —  let  not  the  idle  wear  ; 
Forge  arms,  —  in  your  defence  to  bear. 

Shrink  to  your  cellars,  holes,  and  cells;        25 
In  halls  ye  deck,  another  dwells. 
AVhy  shake  the  chains  ye  wrought?  Ye  see 
The  steel  ye  temj)ered  glance  on  ye. 

With  plough  and  sjnide.  and  hoe  and  loom. 
Trace  your  grave,  and  linild  your  tond),        30 
And  weave  your  winding-sheet,  till  fair 
England  be  your  sepulchre  ! 

1819. 


i 


*:1 


86 


ODK  TO   THE   WEST   WIND 


ENGLAND    IN    IS  19 
As  old.  mad,  hliiid.  (Icspiscd,  jind  dviiiij  1 


ilU'r^  - 


I'lllCCS, 


Tl 


l()ll"ll  1)1 


till'  ditji;s  of  their  dull  race,  who  flow 
iMif  scorn.  —  inud  fi 


ihiif  scorn.  —  mud  tiom  a  niuddv  sDrin"-: 
liiiiers  who  noitlH.-r  sfc,  nor  fed,  nor  know, 

But  li'i'ch-likc  to  tlu'ir  faintini,^  country  clini;-,  5 

Till  tlu-y  drop,  blind  in  hlood,  without  a  blow; 

A  ])e()|)lc  r^-irved  and  stahlu'd  iu  the  nntilkd  field; 
An  army,  which  liheitieide  and  pi-ey 

Make  as  a  two-edged  sword  to  all  who  wiidd  ; 

(Jolden  and  sanj^uine  laws  which  tempt  and  slay; 

Keli^ion  Christless,  (Jodless,  —  a  hook  sealed  ;  11 

A  Senate,  —  time's  woi'st  statute  nnrepealed,— 
Are  graves,  from  which  a  glorious  Phantom  may 
Jjiirst,  to  illumine  our  tempestuous  day. 
IS  HI. 


ODE   TO   THE   WEST   WIND 


O  wuj)  West  AVind,  thou  breath  of  Autumn's  bein"-, 

Thou  from  whose  unseen  presence  the  leaves  dead 
Are  driven,  like  ghosts  from  an  euchanter  fleeing, 

'fellow,  and  black,  and  ])ale,  and  hectic  red, 
Pestilence-stricken  multitudes  :  O  thou,  5 

^^'ho  chari  )test  to  their  dark  wintry  bed 

The  winged  seeds,  where  they  lie  cold  and  low, 
Kach  like  a  corpse  within  its  grave,  until 
Thine  azure  sister  of  the  Spring  shall  blow 


ODE   TO   THE    WEST    WIND  37 

IlfT  clarion  o'er  the  dioainiiit:  cartli,  and  fill  10 

(  hi'ivin^-  swi'ct  buds  lilit-  llocdvs  to  fi'cd  in  air) 
^\'itll  living  lines  and  odums  jijaiu  and  hill: 

Wild  Spirit,  which  art  moving-  I'Ver}  whtro  ; 
Destroyer  and  preserver;  hear,  0  hear! 

II 

Thou  on  whose  stream,  "mid   the   steep  sky's  oonuno- 
tion,  15 

Loose  elonds  like  earth's  decayint,'-  leaves  ar.  shed, 
Shook    from    the    tanjiled    bou<:hs    of    heaven    and 
ocean, 

Angels  of  ra'n  and  liyhtnini;- :  there  are  spread 

On  the  blue  surface  of  thine  airy  surge. 

Like  the  bright  hair  uplifted  from  the  head  20 

Of     some     fierce     Mienad,     even     from      the     dim 

verge 
Of  the  horizon  to  the  zenith's  height 
The  locks  of  the  approaching  storm.     Thou  dirge 


Of  the  dving  vear,  to  which  this  closing  night 
Will  be  the  dome  of  a  vast  sepulchre. 
Vaulted  with  all  thy  congregated  might 

Of  vapours,  from  whose  solid  atmosjdiere 

Black  rain,  and  fire,  and  hail,  will  burst ;  O  hear  I 

III 

Thou  who  didst  waken  from  his  summer  dreams 

'■fill       "^  f"    1  • ,  »         11 

i  i'lxj,  oiiu"  i^ieuiLorraiH'aii,  Vviuri'  iic  iay, 

Lulled  by  the  coil  of  his  crystalline  streams. 


•jfi 


%.; 


i 


IS  < 


H\ 


■■  f 

i 


ll  1; 


88 


OliK   TO    THE    \\  i:.<T    \\  isr. 


IVsido  a  iniinice  iMc  in   I5ai;c's  li.iv, 
A\u\  saw  ill  >Iff|»  (lid  palact's  an  I  t 


(>iiivfi  ill''  witlilii  till,'  u 


oucrs 


ivc  s  iiitt'ii>fr  dav, 


All  civcr-iowii  witli  azure  iiids-;.  and  flowers 

^M  ^weet   the  ,>eii>e  faints   piet  iiiini^'  them!    Thou 

I  nr  wlioNC  path  the  Atlantic's  level  powers 

Cleave  tlieinsolves  into  ehasnis,  while  far  hi  low 
Die  sea-ldoonis  and  the  oo/y  woods  whieJi  wear 
Tlie  saph'.ss  fulia<;e  of  the  ocean,  know 


■10 


Thy  voice,  and  suddenly  <;iow  <,nay  with  fear, 
And  treud>Ie  and  despoil  tlienistdves :   O  hear! 


IV 


If  I  wore  a  (h'ad  leaf  tlion  ndi^htest  hoar 
If  I  wore  a  swift  elond  to  Hy  with  thee  ; 


iV  W 


iive  to  pant  honeath  thy  junver,  and  share  4.' 


Tlie  impulse  of  thy  stron^th,  only  loss  f 

Than  thou,  ()  uncontrollable!   if 

I  were  as  in  my  boyhood,  and  could  bt 


rce 


oven 


1  he  comrade  of  thy  wandei  ini;.s  over  heaven, 
As  thon,  when  to  outstrij)  thy  skyey  sjieed 
Scarce  seemotl  a  vision;   J  would  ne'er  have  st 


60 


riven 


As  thus  with  tl 
()!   lift  I 


loe  in  prayer  in  my  sore  need. 


ne  as  a  wave,  a 


a  cloud 


1  fall  upon  the  lliurns  of  life  !   1  bleed  ! 


A  heavv  wei"!i1-  of  Ik^.hi;  l.nc  /.l,o;..o-l  "--i  i -  i 

One  too  like  thee  :   tameless,  and  swift,  and  proud. 


ODK    r<)    TUK    WKST    WISH 


39 


Make  iiif  tliy  lyn-,  fvcii  :is  tlir  forest  is: 
Wliiit  if  ii'.y  lt'-<vcs  an'  fallin;;  Hkf  its  own! 
The  tiiMiiih  of  tiiy  lui^lity  liariuuuii's 

Will  take  from  hotli  a  i\vr\'>  aiitiiiiiiial  tone,  ''0 

Swr.t  tliou-li  in  sadness.      Vw  tlioii,  spirit  fiorcc, 
Mv  spirit!    IW  thou  nu',  impetuous  one! 


Drive  my  dead  tliouglits  over  the  universe 
Like  witliered  leaves  to  cpiieken  a  new  birtli ; 
And,  by  the  iueantai-on  of  this  verse. 

Scatter,  as  from  an  unextini^uished  hearth 
Ashes  and  s))arks.  my  words  anion^-  mankind! 
lie  through  my  lips  to  unawakt'ned  earth 

he  trumpet  of  a  prophecy  !   O  Wind, 
If  Winter  comes,  can  Spring  be  far  behind? 
1819. 


65 


70 


i«l 


I'lJOMKIIIKls     IM'.or  M) 

A    i.\  Ki(  \i,   mc  \M.\.  i\   Koiit    \,  r^ 

Aiulism-  li.M>,  Aiii|)lii;irao,.siili  t.rr:im  iilulitc? 


I'Ur.FACK 

T.IK  C.vrvk   ti-.-.ni,.    writ.Ts,  in  .s,.l,.,ti,M^r  ,stl,..ir  sul-joct   any 

'""•"""-''  ""■"•"^'"""^'llnstnnor,MMlH.I„;;v,..,„,,lov..,lintl,.Mr 
tr.'at.M.nt  u|  ,t  a  .-orta.n  ur  I  ut. ■;..•>  di.cT.t ,.,.,.    Tl„.v  hV  i,.,  .nrans 

c..m..n,.,ltlK.,MM.lv..sl M,lt,.a.llu.r,.to,|„...n,n„;„„h,t,r,,n.tH- 

t...n,  ...•  t..  nui.at..   in   ..orv,  as   ,n   titl.,  tiuir   nval>  an.]   ,„...lo- 

crssors.    Su.h  a  svst..n,  w.,ul,l  have  : „,„..|   ,.,  a   n.si.natlon 

..f  t  ,„s,.  daMMs  to  i.r,.|',..vn<.,.  ov.t  tln.ir  .•on,,,..tilo.s  wind,  in- 
oitr.  tin.  .•o,n,M,M,i„n.  Tl,,.  A^^.nn.,nn„nian  .storv  was  ..xliil.iu.d 
.n.  tl.L-  Atln.nnin  theatre  with  as  many  va.iati..n.s"as  .l.annis 

1  l.ave  ,..esnrn...l  t..  i.,n|,l„y  a  sinnlar  license.    The  /'nmutheu. 
Lnbound   „f   .Ksehylus  sn,,,.„s...I    the    . ,  ....neiliation    of   J„,,iter 
with   Ins   netin.  as  the   pru-e   of   the   .liselosure   of   the   .ian-aT 
tl,reatene.I  to  his  e.npire  hy  tin-  eons.un.nation   of  his  uu^vvh^.^ 
with  Ihet.s.    Thetis,  ac.eor.linj,r  to  this  view  of  the  suhjeet    was 
{,m-e..  n.  .narria.o  to  I'dens,  and  I'nMM.thens,  hv  tl,e  ,M.,nn'ssion 
(.t   .Inpiter,  .lel.vere.l    from    his   eaptivitv    hv    ilerenh.s      1I.,<I    I 
fraMH.,1   „,y  story  on   this    „,od,I,  I    shonhl    have  ,l.,ne   no  n.ore 
than   have  attenq.te.i  to  restore  the  h,st  drama  of  .Ksdnlns  •  -ni 
an.h.t.on  whieh,  if   n,v  prehTenee   to   this   mo.i..   „t    trea'tin-r'the 
snhjeet    had    ineited   n.e   to  eherish,  the   reeolleetion  of  the^i-^h 
comparison  s,ni,  an  attempt  wouhl  ehallenjje   mi.dit  well  ahat"e 
l.nf,  m  trnti,,   1  was  averse  fron.  a  catastrophe  so  feehle   as   that 
of   reeone,l,n,,r  ,h..    Chan.pion    with   the    Oppressor   of  n.ankind. 
Ihe  mora    , merest  of  the  fal.le,  whieh  i.  so  powerfullv  snstained 
by  the  snner,M;;s  and  enduK.nreof  l'ron,e,h..„s,  w„„ld  he  annihi- 
lated it  wo  eoiild  coiu'eivo  of  I 


and 


imi  as  nnsayiiio-  his  hii;h   laii-niafe 


tI!'  !'!k    '■'"   '"■^"'■'    '"'   SM<.eessf,d    an.l    perlidions   a.lversai^' 
.  .iP  on.v  ;,=..;.;.,.  !......^  r,-.,Mni,iiM-in  aiiv  .ie^r..e  I'romethens, 

is  batai,  :  and  Prometheus   is,  in  my  j.-d.^vment,  a  more  noetieal 


r  ROM  KTIl  FA'S    IS  IK  USD 


41 


M 


fliar;iPtor  tliaii  S.it.in,  liccausi',  m  .'nldil  ion  ;o  cimii;!'^'',  and  iiia- 
ji'sl  V,  ami  lii'iii  ami  |i:itiriit  i>|i|ii>sitiiiii  t>)  i>tniii|i<iii'iit  Idiio,  lit*  is 
siisL't'pi  ilili!  lit"  lii'iiij^'  drM'iiluil  a-i  fxciiiiit  liiiiii  till-  taints  of 
amlpil  HIM.  i'ii\  V,  rr\  i'ii'_;.',  itml  adi-^iii'  lui'  [iii'^cin.il  aL;'_;iandi/,t'- 
niriil,   whifli,  in    llir     II.  lu    nl'    I'^ihI'Iki'     /."^/,  iillrllrif   uitil    t  ho 

intcrt.'ht.  'I'lio  I'iiaracicr  (if  Sitan  I'ljj^tndri  s  in  tin'  mind  a  ]"  r- 
liii'iiins  casnistry  wiiiili  Irails  ns  tu  \v('ii;h  liis  I'.iults  willi  jjis 
wiDH'^s,  and  lotxcn-.!'  tin'  lornn-r  hrcausi'  tiir  1  iltrr  fxi'i-rd  all 
iiii'aMirc.  In  tlic  minds  (il  llnist!  \\\\n  cun'^iiliT  that  nni^juitici'lit 
lictiiin  uitil  a  ri'liL;iiiiis  fccdin;^,  it  fnL;rndfi  s  sonirtiiiu;;'  \vl>^^(•. 
I'liit  i'l'Dnirthfiis  is,  as  it  were,  tiic  1}  ["•  'd'  tin'  lii;;lii '^t  |icitri- 
tion  of  iniii-al  and  inli  Irctnal  nat  nrt",  ini|ndli  d  by  tiif  [Mirist 
and  tliu  tiin'st  motive-.  lo  tin'  Im  --t  and  iioldi  >l  ends. 

riiis  |iii('m  was  cliiidly  wiittiMi  npon  tin'  moiintainons  rniiis  of 
till'  Matlis  of  ('ai:icai!;i,  ainon'T  tin-  tiow  t  iv  •rladi'-,  and  tliiclict-S 
of  odoriferous  Idossomin;;  trees,  wlmii  art'  cMendt'd  in  cver- 
windinj;  lalnrintlis  njion  it-,  immense  ]datforms  and  di//y  artdn's 
.suspended  in  the  air.  'riie  lirieht  Idne  >ky  of  Konie,  and  tin' 
elfeit  of  tin;  vi;^orons  awiilcenilij;  of  sjilini,-  in  tl  at  divincst  (di- 
luate,  and  tiie  nuw  life  with  wiiieii  it  (irenehes  tlu-  si)irits  evuii  to 
iiitoxieation,  were  the  ins])iration  of  this  drama. 

Tlie  iina^'eiy  wlii(di  I  have  ciindDyi'd  will  hf  found,  in  many 
instances,  to  have  lieen  drawn  from  the  operations  id"  the  luimaii 
iniiul,  or  from  those  external  actions  by  whicii  they  are  ex- 
pressed. Tiiis  is  unusual  in  modern  poetry,  altho\ii;h  Dante  and 
Sliakespeare  are  full  of  instances  of  the  same  kind  :  Dante  in- 
deed more  than  any  other  poet,  and  v.  It h  j^reater  success.  I^ut 
the  (ireek  ])oets,  .'is  writers  to  whom  no  resource  of  awakenin;^ 
till'  symi>athy  of  tlicir  conteiniiorai'ies  was  unknown,  were  in  tiie 
haliitual  use  of  tliis  power  ;  and  it  is  the  study  of  their  works 
(since  a  iiij;'lier  merit  would  prolialdy  lie  denied  mejtowhiidi 
I  am  willing;  that  my  readers  shouhl  impute  this  sineuhirity. 

One  word  is  due  in  caiulonr  to  tiie  deforce  in  whieli  the  study 
of  contenqxirarv  writinLjs  mav  have  tin^^ed  my  com]iosition  ;  to- 
such  lias  hcen  a  topic  of  eensnre  with  rerjard  to  iioems  far  moie 
poi)ular,  and  indeed  more  deservedly  popular,  than  mine.  It  is 
impossihie  that  any  one  who  iidiahits  the  sanu'  age  with  ^ucli 
writers  as  those  who  stand  in  the  foremost  ranks  of  our  own, 
can  conscientiously  assure  liims(df  that  his  lans^nafre  and  tone  of 
thoii-'-ht  mav  not  have  been  luoditied  hy  the  study  of  the  prodiie- 


Hi; 


m  : 
-rill 


tions  o 


f  those  e\traordinarv  intellects.    It   is  true,  that,  not  the 


42 


rnoMETHEVs  I '.V no i \\ n 


spirit  ..f  their  c^ciiius,  Inii  thr  forms  in  wliicli  it  lias  niaiiifc'stcd 
itsi'll,  arc  (iiic  less  to  tin-  prniliaritics  of  tlit-ir  own  iiiiiids  tiiari 
to  the  |H  iiiliarily  of  tliu  moral  and  intellcctnal  ('(.niiition  of  the 
inin.ls  aiiHiiii;-  uliicli  tlu-v  iiavc  liom  |iroilni-.cl.  'I'hn.s  a  luunht-r 
of  wrucis  11US.SC.-..S  tilt;  form,  whilst  they  want  the  spirit  of  those 
whom,  it  is  all<'M;,'(],  thfv  imitate  ;  lua'ansc  the  fornier  is  the 
cndoum.iit  of  tin;  age  in  which  they  live,  and  the  latter  must 
lie  tilt,'  uneonitnnnieated  li^htninj;  of  their  own  mind. 

1  iie  p'l'idiar  style  of  intense  and  comprehensive  inia;,'-ory 
which  distinj^Mii.^hes  the  modi'rn  literature  of  Kni,dand,  lias  not 
been,  as  a  ;;encral  jiower,  the  prodnct  of  the  imitation  of  anv 
l>ai-ticidar  writer.  The  mass  of  capabilities  remains  at  every 
]ien,Mi  m,a!>-rially  the  same  :  tlie  eirenmstanccs  which  awaken  it 
to  action  perpetually  chanj,'e.  If  Knj,dand  were  divided  into  forty 
republics,  eacii  eipial  in  iK.pul.ation  and  extent  to  Athens,  there 
is  no  reason  tosiiiipose  but  that,  under  institutions  not  more  per- 
fect than  those  of  Athens,  each  would  produce  philo.sophers  and 
poets  e(jual  to  those  who  (if  we  e.\ee|it  Shakespeare)  have  never 
been  surpass  -d.  We  owe  the  great  writers  of  the  golilen  age  of 
our  literatT.^r  to  that  fervid  aw.akening  of  the  public  mind  which 
shook  to  dust  the  oldest  and  .  .ost  oppressive  form  of  tie;  Chris- 
tian rtdigion.  We  owe  Mdtou  to  the  progress  and  development 
of  the  same  spirit:  the  .-.acred  Milton  was,  let  it  ever  be  remem- 
bered, a  republican,  and  a  liold  iiupiirer  into  iiioral:^  and  reIi<'ion. 
The  great  writers  of  our  own  age  are,  we  liavi'  reason  to  sup- 
pose, the  companions  and  forerunners  of  some  unimagined 
change  in  our  social  condition,  or  the  opini(Uis  which  cement  it. 
,  The  (dond  of  mind  is  discharging  its  collected  lightning,  and  the 
C(piiiiliriniu  between  institutions  and  opinions  is  now  restoring, 
or  is  about  to  be  restored. 

As  to  imitation,  poetry  is  a  mimetic  art.  It  creates,  but  it 
creates  by  cumbinatioM  and  reprcs;'iitation.  Poetical  abstractions 
are  beautiful  and  new,  imt  licc.iuse  the  port  loiiMif  which  they  are 
composed  had  no  previous  e.\i.-,tence  in  the  mind  of  man  or  in 
nature,  but  because  the  whole  ]iroduci  d  by  their  combination 
has  some  intelligible  and  beautiful  analogy  with  those  sources  of 
emotion  and  thought,  and  with  the  contemnorarv  condition  of 
them:  one  gre.it  ])opt  is  n  masterpiec'  of  nature  which  another 
not  only  oughf  to  stiiil;.  but  must  study.  He  might  as  wisely 
and  as  easily  determine  that  his  mind  should  no  loneer  be  the 
mirror  of  all  that  is  lovely  in  the  visible  imiver.se,  as  exclude  from 


ruoyiETiiEvs  uMiouyn 


43 


liis  ooiitoiiiiiliitioM  the  bcautihil  wliicli  exists  in  the  writiiipjs  of 
;,  great  cdiitfiiipoiiirv.  TIip  jirctPiue  of  doiiij;  it  would  lu'  a 
piesumiiliuii  in  any  Init  the  j;ieatt'st  ;  the  ellVct.  cviMi  in  liini, 
\\<iul(l  he  strained,  unnatiiial,  and  iiudVfCtnal.  A  jhii'I  is  the 
cpiiiliini'd  jiroduL't  of  such  internal  powers  as  niodily  tlie  nature 
of  others  ;  and  of  such  external  intlnenees  as  exeite  and  sustain 
these  jiowers:  he  is  not  one,  l)nt  both.  Every  man's  mind  is,  in 
this  r 'sjiect,  modiiied  l)y  all  the  objects  of  nature  and  art;  by 
everv  word  and  everv  s.ii;i;estion  which  he  ever  admitti  d  to  act 
\ij)on  his  consciousness;  it  is  the  mirror  upon  which  all  forms  are 
relleeted,  and  in  which  they  comiiose  one  form.  I'oets,  not  other- 
wise than  jiliilosophcrs,  painters,  sculptors,  and  musicians,  arc,  in 
one  sense  the  creators,  and,  in  another,  the  creations,  of  their 
ii"-e.  From  this  subjection  the  loftiest  do  not  esea]ic.  There 
is  a  similarity  between  Flomer  and  llesiod,  between  .Kschylns 
and  Euriiiitles,  between  Virgil  and  Horace,  between  Dante  ami 
IVlrarch,  between  Shakespea' e  and  Fletcher,  between  Drulcn 
and  Pope;  each  has  a  generic  resendilance  under  which  their 
specific  distinctions  are  arranged.  If  this  similarity  be  the  result 
of  indtatioii,  1  am  willing  to  confess  that  1  have  imitated. 

Let  this  opportunity  be  conceded  tome  of  acknowledging  that 
I  have,  what  a  Scotch  philosoiiher  characteristically  terms,  "  a 
passion  for  reforming  the  world  "'  :  what  passion  incited  him  to 
write  and  publish  bis  book,  he  omits  to  explain.  For  my  jiart, 
I  had  rather  be  damned  uitii  Plato  and  Lord  Paeon  than  go  to 
heaven  with  Paley  and  Maltlius.  lint  it  is  a  nustake  to  su]iiiiise 
that  I  dedicate  my  poetical  compositions  solely  to  the  direct 
enforcement  of  reform,  or  that  I  consider  them  in  any  degree 
as  containing  a  reasoned  sy.stem  on  the  theory  of  human  life. 
Didaetic  poetry  is  my  abhorrence  ;  nothin:;  can  be  equally  well 
expressed  in  jirose  that  is  not  tedious  and  supererogatory  in  verse. 
My  ))nri)ose  has  hitherto  been  siniidy  to  familiarize  the  higlily 
relined  imagination  of  the  more  select  (dasses  of  poetical  readeis 
with  beautiful  idealisms  of  moral  excellence;  aware  that  nnii! 
the  mind  can  love,  and  admire,  and  trust,  and  hope,  and  emlure, 
reasoned  jniuciples  of  moral  conduct  are  seeds  cast  upon  the 
lli"-liwav  t)f  life,  whicli  the  unconscious  passenger  tr;iii.p!es  into 
dust,  altliough  they  W(udd  bear  the  harvest  of  his  happiness. 
Should    I   live  to  a<'ci'iiiidisb  what   I   jmrpose.  that    is.  produce  a't 

--•.■■4f::;::'.;!  ii>:;l    !'.!s*i>!'V    of    whilt    a'.o.iea.r    to    loe    to    be     thi'    Cfenniiie    I 

elements  of  human  society,  let  not  the  advocates  t)f  injustice  and  J 


) 


nr 


m 
m 


it 


^iH 


"'■\t 


it 
k 


\i\ 


44 


PROMETHEUS    UXIiO UND 


r  suporsfitio,,  (latfor  tl,on,s,.lvos  that  r,sI,„MM  (ak.  Jvsohyli.s  rafl.or 

\tliaii  I'lato  MS  my  inixli'l. 

Tlu.  luvin,^  spokrn  „f  ,„v.,.lf  witl.  ....allVH..!  fn-o,!..,,,  will 
■"■;■''  l"'l-M-l'W  with  tlH.,.aM,|i.l  ;  an.l  la  ,h..  un..an.ii,i  ...,„. 
snl.Tthat  th..yinj„ren„.  l...,s  than  their  own  hearts  an.l  nun.ls 
.y  nnsn.,.,...s,.ntation.  Whatever  talents  a  person  n,av  possess 
to  :t.",.se  ami  insfrnet  others,  he  they  ever  so  ineonsi.leVal.le.  he 
isyet  honn.l  to  exert  then,  :  if  his  atten.pt  he  ineilVetual.  let  the 
JHuuslnnent  o  an  nnaeeo.nplishe.l  pnrpose  have  l,ee„  snftieient  • 
I.'t  nonetronhle  then.selves  to  heap  the  dust  of  ohlivion  npon  his 
e  orts  ;  tlje  p,le  they  raise  will  hetray  his  ^jrave,  which  .night 
otherwise  liave  heen  unknown. 


I  ' 


DK.'  \IATIS   I'KRSOX.E 


PlJOMKTTIK.rs 

IH.Mocoiico.v 

.Jll'ITKU 
The    KaUTH 
OCKAV 
A !'()[. LO 

Mkkctijy 
IIkiicl'lks 


Asia,  ^ 

Pantiika.  -  Oreanulr:^ 
Ion,.:,  \ 

The    PlIAXTASM    OK  JcriTKR 

The  Si'iitiT  OK  THK   Kautii 
The  Si'iHiT  OK  Tin:  Moo.v 

SiTKITS  OK  THK   IIoCKS 

Si-iuiTs.      EciioKs.     Fauns 

r  UKIKS 


ACT  I 

ScprvK.  A  Rcunne  of  In,  Rocks  in  the  Indian  Caumsus. 
IKOMKTHKUS  Js  d!scorn-ed  hnnnd  fa  tJw  PrenpJre 
1  AN-TMKA  and  loN-K  are  smWd  at  hh  fWf.  Time  Xiqh 
Dnrin,j  the  Scene.  Monun,j  shari,,  hreaks. 


ifjht. 


PltOMKTTIKUS 

Aron.-u-oh  of  Gods  an.l  I):vmon.s.  and  all  Spirits 

r.nt  On.    who  tlu-on.i;  those  bright  an.l  r.,llin.^  worlds 

U  hu'h  thou  and  I  alone  (.f  living  thin^rs 

P.ohold  with  sl.'Pploss  eyes  !  r.^-ar.1  this  Earth 

Mad<>^  multitn.lln.)ns  with  thy  slaves,  whom  thou         5 

Ko.|nit.>st  for  knee-worship.  piav.T.  an.l  nrniso, 

Ami  toil,  an.l  heei.tonibs  of  broken  hearts, 


riiOMETIIEUS    UMiOUNI) 


"Witli  fear  ami  self-contempt  and  harren  hope: 


AVliilst 


tliv  f( 


hate. 


liilst  me,  wlio  am  tiiy  toe,  eyeless  in  ii; 
lliist  tliou  made  ieij:;n  and  tiiumj)li.  to  thy  scorn, 
()"i'i'  mine  own  misery  ami  thy  vain  I'evenge. 
Three  thonsand  years  of  slee])-nnsheltered  honrs, 
jiiid  moments  aye  divided  hy  keen  ])ang;s 
Till  they  seemed  years,  torture  and  solitude, 
Scoi-n  and  des])air,  —  these  are  mine  em]>ire, 
^lorc  glorious  far  than  that  wliieh  thou  snrveyest 
p^'om  thine  nnenvied  thione,  O  mighty  God! 
Almighty,  had  I  deigned  to  share  the  shame 
Of  thine  ill  tyranny,  and  hung  not  lure 
Nailed  to  this  wall  of  eagle-haffling  mountain, 
]Mack,  wintiy,  dead,  unmeasured  :  without  hei'h, 
Insect,  or  l)east.  or  shape  or  sound  of  life. 
Ah  me  I  alas,  pain,  pain  ever,  for  ever! 

No  change,  no  pause,  no  ho]ie !  Yet  I  endure. 
I  ask  the  Earth,  have  not  the  mountains  felt? 
I  ask  yon  Heaven,  the  all-hehohling  Sun. 
lias  it  not  seen?  The  Sea,  in  storm  or  calm. 
Heaven's  ever-changing  Shadow,  spread  helow, 
Have  its  deaf  waves  not  heard  my  agony? 
Ah  me!  alas,  pain,  pain  ever,  for  ever! 


45 


10 


15 


20 


25 


30 


Tlie  crawling  glaciers  ]m<mto  me  with  the  spcai's 
'^)f  theii-  moon-freezing  crystals  :  the  bright  chains 
K:it  with  their  hurning  cold  into  my  hones. 
Heaven's  winged  hound.  ])olluting  froui  thy  lips 
His  l)e:d<  in  ])oison  not  his  own,  tenrs  uj)  35 

My  heiirt  :  and  shapeless  sights  come  wandering  by. 
The  ghastly  peo))le  of  the  realm  of  dream. 
Mocking  me:   and  the  Eartlujuake-tiends  are  charged 
To  wreucli  the  rivets  from  my  quivering  wounds 


i'l. 


46 


/•  /; O.I/ /; 77//; /  '.s  r  '.v />•  o  r -.v  /> 


When  tlie  rocks  split  and  close  again  behind  ; 
While  from  their  loi;d  abysses  howling  thron' 
The  genii  of  tlie  storm,  urging  the  rni:e 
Of  whirlwind,  and  afHiet 


40 


nu'  with  keen  hail. 


And  yet  to  nn;  welcome  is  day  and  nigiit, 

^Vhether  (me  breaks  the  hoar  frost  of  tli<.  morn,        45 

Or,  starry,  dim,  and  slow,  the  other  elind)s 

The  leaden-coloured  east ;  for  then  they  lead 

The  wingless,  ei'awling  hours,  one  among  whom 

As  some  dark  Priest  hales  the  reluctant  victim — 
Shall  drag  thee,  cruel  King,  to  hiss  the  blood  r,0 

From  these  pale  feet,  which  then  might  trample  thee 
If  they  disdained  not  such  a  prostrate  slave. 
Disdain  !  Ah  no!   I  ])ity  thee.     What  ruin 
Will  i-.int  thee  undefended  through  the  wide  Heaven! 
Ho-  1  thy  soul,  cloven  to  its  depth  with  terror,    55 

(Jape  like  a  hell  within  I    I  speak  in  o-iief, 
Not  exultation,  for  I  hate  no  more, 
As  then  ere  misery  m;ide  me  wise.     The  curse 
Once  bieathed  on  thee  I  would  recall.    Ye  Mountains, 
Whose  many-voiced  Echoes,  through  the  mist  GO 

Of  cataracts,  flung  the  thunder  of  that  spell! 
Ye  icy  Springs,  stagnant  with  wrinkling  frost, 
Which  vibrated  to  hear  me,  and  then  crei)t 
Shuddering  through  India!   Thou  serenest  Air,  ;t 

Tiirough  which  the  Sun  walks  burning  without  l)eams  ' 
And  the  swift  Whirlwinds,  who  ju  poised  wings 
Hung  mute  and  moveless  o'er  yon  hushed  aby^s, 
As  thuiuler,  louder  than  your  own.  m;ule  rock 
The  orbed  worhl !   If  then  my  words  had  power, 
Though  I  am  changed  so  tliat  .lught  evil  wish  70 

Is  dead  within  ;  although  no  memory  be 
Of  what  is  hate,  let  them  not  lose  it  now! 


>v  iiixi  was  tiiat  curse  .-  tor  ye  ali  heard 


me  speak. 


rnoMETiiF.rs  uxnouND  47 

FlKST  VoiCK  :  froir)  the  Mountanis 

Thrice  three  hundred  thousand  years 

O'er  the  E;irth(|u:ike's  couch  we  stood;  75 

Oft,  as  men  convulsed  with  fears, 
We  trend )led  in  our  nudtitude. 

Sf.cono  York  :  j'row  t/ic  Sjn'iiujs 

Thunderbolts  had  jjarehed  our  water, 
We  had  been  stained  with  bitter  blood, 

And  had  run  mute,  "mid  shrieks  of  slaughter,   80 
Through  a  city  and  a  solitude. 

TiiiKD  VoiCK  :  fro?)!  the  Air 

I  had  ch)thed,  since  Earth  uprose, 
lis  wastes  in  colours  not  their  own  ; 

And  oft  had  my  serene  repose 

Been  cloven  by  many  a  rending  groan.  85 

FouKTH  Yoicvr.  fro »i  the  Whirl whids 

We  had  soared  beneath  these  mountains 

Unresting  ages  ;  nor  had  thunder, 
Nor  yon  volcano's  flaming  fountains, 

Nor  any  power  above  or  under 

Ever  made  us  mute  with  wonder.  90 

First  Voice 

But  never  bowed  our  snowy  crest 
As  at  the  voice  of  thine  unrest. 

Skcoxp  Voick 

Never  such  a  sound  before 

To  the  Indian  waves  we  bore. 

A  pilot  asleep  on  the  howling  sea  95 

Leaped  up  from  the  deck  in  agony, 


hi 


48  riWMKTllEUS    UNliOUNl) 

And  lu'iiid,  and  cried,  "  Ah,  woo  is  me  !  " 
And  died  as  mad  as  tiie  wild  waves  be. 

Tnii;i»   \'(HiH 

By  such  dread  words  from  F-aitli  to  Heaven 
^ly  still  realm  was  never  riven  : 
AVhen  its  wound  was  closed,  there  stood 
Darkness  o'er  the  day  like  blood. 

Fouinii  VoicK 
And  we  shrank  back :  for  dreams  of  ruin 
To  frozen  caves  our  flight  ])ursuin<^ 
Made  us  kcej)  silence  —  thus  —  and  thus — 
Though  silence  is  a  hell  to  us. 


100 


105 


TiiK  Kaiitii 
The  tongueless  Caverns  of  the  craggy  hills 
Cried,  ''  Misery!  "  then;  the  hollow  Heaven  replied, 
"  Misery!  "  and  the  Ocean's  purple  waves. 
Climbing  the  land,  howled  to  the  lashing  winds,      110 
And  the  pale  nations  heard  it,  ''  Misery  !  " 

Promethei's 
I  hear  a  sound  of  voices:  not  the  voice 
Which  1  gave  foitli.      Mother,  thy  sons  and  thou 
Scorn  him  without  whose  all-enduring  will 
J'cueath  the  fierce  onniipotciice  of  ,[ove,  115 

]5oth  they  and  thou  had  vanished,  like  thin  mist 
enrolled  on  the  morning  wind.      Know  ye  not  me, 
The  Titan?  he  who  made  his  ngonv 
The  hairier  to  your  else  all-con(Hiering  Foe? 
O  rock-embosomed  lawns,  and  snow-fed  streams,      120 
Now  seen  atliwai't  fi-oi-e  va])ours,  deep  below, 
liirough  whose  oershadowing  woods  I  wandered  once 


PROMETHEUS    UNBOUND 


49 


With  Asia,  (IriiiUin"^  life  from  her  lovod  eyes; 
Why  scorns  tlic  s|  Wit  wliich  informs  ye,  now 
To  commnne  with  me?  me  alone,  who  checUecl, 
As  one  who  elieeks  a  tifnd-drawn  charioteer, 
The  falsehood  and  the  foi'ce  of  him  who  r(Mi:;ns 
Supreme,  and  with  the  t^roans  of  pininj;'  slaves 
Fills  your  dim  glens  and  li((nid  wildernesses. 
Why  answer  yo  not,  still,  Iirethren? 

TuK  Kauth 


125 


I.IO 


They  dare  not. 
Prometheus 

AVho  dares?  for  I  would  hear  that  curse  again. 

Ha  I  what  an  awful  whisper  lises  up! 

'T  is  scarce  like  sound  :  it  tingles  through  the  frame 

As  liii'litnin"-  tingles,  hovel•in^•  ere  it  strike. 

Speak.  Sj)irit  I   From  thine  inorganic  voice,  135 

I  oidy  know  that  thou  art  moving  near 

And  love.     How  cursed  I  him  ? 


The  Earth 


How  canst  thou  hear 


m 


■i-if 


11 


Who  knowest  not  the  language  of  the  dead  ? 


Pkomethfus 
Thou  art  a  living  spirit:  speak  as  they ! 

The  Earth 

I  dare  not  speak  like  life,  lest  Heaven's  fell  King  140 
Should  hear,  and  link  me  to  some  wheel  of  pain 
]More  <-orturing  than  tlie  one  whereon  I  roll. 
Subtle  thou  art  and  good  :  and  though  the  Gods 
Hear  not  this  voi(!e,  yet  thou  art  niore  than  ViOu, 
Being  wise  and  kind:  earnestly  hearken  now  !         145 


50  pnoMETiiKi's  rsr.orsi) 

PliOMKrilFl'S 

Ohsciirely  tll^()^^•^I  my  hiaiii,  liUu  shadows  dim, 
Swci"))  awful  tli()iij;Iits.  rapid  and  thick.      I  feel 
Faint,  liiic  one  mingled  in  entwiiiint;-  love; 
^  ft  "t  is  not  pleasure. 

The  Earth 

No,  thou  canst  not  hear  : 
Thou  art  immortal,  and  this  tonj^^ue  is  known  150 

Only  to  those  who  die. 

Pkometheus 

And  what  art  thou, 
O  niolanchojy  Voice? 

The  Eaktii 

I  am  the  Earth, 
Thy  mother ;  she  within  whose  stony  veins. 
To  the  last  fibre  of  the  loftiest  tree 
"Whose  thin  leaves  trembled  in  the  frozen  air,  155 

.Foy  rail,  as  blood  within  a  living  frame, 
AVhen  thou  didst  from  her  bosom,  like  a  cloud 
Of  glory,  arise,  a  spirit  of  keen  joy  I 
And  at  thy  voice  her  ])ining  sons  uplifted 
Their  prostrate  brows  from  the  polluting  dust,         160 
And  our  almighty  Tyrant  with  fierce  dread 
Grew  i)ale,  until  his  thunder  chained  thee  liere. 
Then,  see  those  million  worlds  which  burn  and  roll 
Around  us:  their  inhabitants  beheld 
My  sjdiered  light  wane  in  wide  Heaven;  the  sea     105 
Was  lifted  by  strange  ti-mju'st,  an<l  new  fire 
From  eartJKpiake-rifted  mountains  of  bright  snow 
Shook  its  portentous  hair  beneath  Heaven's  frown; 
Lightning  and  Inundation  vexed  the  plains  ; 


M 


rnoMKTiiFA's  UNiioryi)  51 

nine  thistles  bloomed  in  citiL's  ;   foodlcss  toads  170 

Within  vohiptuoiis  chanilu'is  pantiiiL;  crawled  : 

\\1h'Ii  l'hiL;iie  had  lalli'ii  on  man,  and  hoast,  and  worm, 

And  I''aminc  :  and  hhick  lilii;ht  on  hcrl»  and  troi; ; 

And  in  till'  corn,  and  vines,  and  mea<U)W'-grass, 

1  reined  ineradical)h-  poisonous  weeds  17.") 

])i:iiniiiijf  tlieir  !4i'owth,  for  my  wan  breast  was  dry 

AVith  grief;  and  the  thin  air,  my  breath,  was  stained 

^\'itli  the  contagion  of  a  mother's  hate 

Iheathed  on  iier  clnhrs  (lestioyer;  ay,  I  Iieard 

Thv  curse,  tlie  which,  if  thou  remend)erest  not,        ISO 

Yet  my  innumerable  seas  and  streams, 

Mountains,  and  eaves,  and  winds,  and  yon  wide  air, 

And  the  inarticulate  people  of  the  dead, 

1 'reserve,  a  treasured  spell.      We  meditate 

In  secret  joy  and  hope  those  dreadful  words,  1S5 

But  dare  not  speak  them. 

Prometheus 

Venerable  mother ! 
All  else  who  live  and  suffer  take  from  thee 
Some  comfort ;  flowers,  and  fruits,  and  happy  sounds, 
And  love,  though  fleeting:  these  may  not  be  mine. 
But  mine  own  words,  I  pray,  deny  me  not!  190 

TuK  Eahth 

Thoy  shall  be  told.     Ere  Babylon  was  dust, 

The  Magus  Zoroaster,  my  dead  child, 

Met  his  own  image  walUing  in  the  garden. 

'^rhat  apparition,  sole  of  men.  he  saw. 

For  know,  there  are  two  worlds  of  life  and  death  :  19r> 

One,  that  which  thou  behohlest ;  but  the  other 


"¥■  ^  .T.I 

IS  untieriieatii  tne 


"rave,  vy'iicro  tio  iiiiiaiyiL 


The  shadows  of  all  forms  that  think  and  live, 


4^  it 


.1 

I 


I  :tll 


f  ■■' 


rnoMF.TiiEr>i  u.\iior\ i> 


Till  (Icatli  iinitt'  fl 


Di'cimn  atul  tlic  liiilit 


cm  and  tlit-y  part  no  in 


ore 


And  all  that  faitl 


iina.;inini;s  of  nn-n 


200 


1  ci-t'atc'S  or  love  dcsir- 


•  rrililc.  straiiL;!'.  snlilinii',  and  licarif 
line  tlioii  art.  and  dust  Iiati 


•  'Oils  -liaix's. 


a  wi-illiini 


snai  (' 


Mid  \\liirl\vin,l-|),.,.|.l,.d  nionntains  ;  all  tin'  (lod; 

Aiv  tlicrc,  and  all  tlic  powrrs  of  nainidrss  w..rMs,    L'Of) 

\  a>t.  scrptrt'd  i.liantonis:   heroes,  nwn,  and  hcasts  ; 

And  Dcnioi^or^-on,  a  trcincndons  ^looin  ; 

And  he,  tho  snpn.'nie  Tyrant,  on  his  throne 

()f  bnrnini;  j^^old.    Son,  one  of  these  shall  utter 

The  oiirse  whieli  all  reinoinher.    Call  at  will  210 

Thine  own  ^■host.  or  the  nliost  of  Jupiter, 

Hades  or  Typhon,  or  what  mightier  Gods 

From  all-prolifie  Evil,  since  thy  ruin 

Have  spruni;,  and  trampled  on  my  jn-ostrate  .sons. 

Ask,  and  they  must  ve])\y  :  so  tho  reveno-e  215 

Of  the  Supreme  may  sweep  tlirounli  vacant  shades, 

As  niiny  wind  through  the  abandoned  gate 

Of  a  fallen  })alace. 


Pro.mkthku.s 

Mother,  let  not  aught 
Of  that  which  may  he  evil,  pass  again 
My  lips,  or  those  of  aught  resend)ling  me. 
Phantasm  of  Jupiter,  arise,  appear ! 


220 


Io\E 

My  wings  are  folded  o'er  mine  ears : 

My  wings  are  cross(?d  o'er  mine  oves : 

1  et  through  their  silver  shade  appears, 

And  through  their  lulling  plumes  arise, 
A   ftli'iim    r>  ♦.i>„„„™  „r 1^ 

May  it  be  no  ill  to  thee 


225 


riiOMK THE ( 'S    l\ n () I  S D 

()  tlioii  of  iiiiuiy  Wdiiiids  ! 
Near  wlioiiu  foi-  our  swoet  sister's  sake, 
Ever  thus  we  watch  aiul  wake. 


'i 

11 


•j;{() 


Pa  NTH  i:  A 

Tlu'  sound  Is  of  whhlwiiul  uiuler^romid, 

Kartlnjuake,  and  tire,  and  mountains  cloven  ; 
Tlu'  shajie  is  awful  like  the  sound. 

Clothed  in  dark  j)uri)le,  star-inwoven. 
A  s«'eptre  of  pale  ^old,  -35 

To  stay  steps  proud,  o'er  the  slow  eloud, 
His  veined  hand  doth  hold, 
('ruel  he  looks,  but  calm  and  strong, 
Like  one  who  does,  not  suffers  wrong. 

Phantasm  ok  Jii'Itku 

AVhy  have  the  secret  powers  of  this  strange  world 

Driven  nie,  a  frail  and  empty  phantom,  hither         'J  11 

On  direst  storms?  What  nnaecustomed  sounds 

Are  hovering  on  my  lips,  unlike  the  voice 

AVith  which  our  pallid  race  hold  ghastly  talk 

In  darkness?  And,  proud  sufferer,  who  art  thou?     245 

Prometheus 

Tremendous  Image  I   as  thou  art  must  he 
He  whom  thou  shadowest  forth.    I  atn  his  foe, 
The  Titan.    Speak  the  words  which  I  would  hear. 
Although  no  thought  inform  thine  empty  voice  \ 

The  Earth 

Listen  !  and  though  your  echoes  must  be  unite,       250 
Gray  mountains,  and  old  woods,  and  haunted  springs, 
Protilifttic  caves,  and  isle-s"rronnding[  streams, 
liejoice  to  hear  what  yet  ye  cannot  si)eak ! 


64  ri;'>Mirrin:i-s  ixuoiwi, 

I'llANIASM 

spirit  seizes  inc  and  sj.caks  witliiii: 
t.'ar-  mm;  as  liiu  tears  a  tiiiiiHl»T-rIoii,l 


It 


L'dU 


F'amii.  a 

See  how  I,.,  lifts  his  iniglity  looks !   the  Ileuveu 
Darkens  above  I 

Id.Nt: 
lie  sjHak.sI   (>  siielter  nie  ! 

I'KOMKTMKI'S 

I  see  the  cnrse  on  -vstiires  piou.l  and  cold, 
And  looks  of  firm  delianee,  and  calm  hate, 
And  such(K"si>air  as  mocks  itself  with  smiles. 
Written  as  on  a  seroll :  yot  speak  !   ()  speak  ! 

i  Jl     VTA8M 

Fiend.  I  defy  thee!   wii  dm,  fixed  mind, 

^  All  that  thou  canst  inflict  I  l.id  tlie^  <lo  ; 

Foul  Tyrant  l.oth  of  (iods  and  Hiimaid<ind, 

One  only  lieinpjr  shait  thou  nuc  sid'.'ue.  235 

Kaiii  then  thy  pl.i-iies  upon  me  here, 

Ghastly  disease,  and  frenzyinj^-  fear: 

And  let  alternate  frost  and  fire 

Eat  into  me,  and  l»e  thine  ire 
Lin^htning,  and  cutting-  hail,  and  h-ioned  forms      L'70 
Of  furies,  driving  by  ui)on  tlio  wounding-  storms! 

Ay,  do  thy  worst  !  Thou  art  omnijiotent. 

O'er  all  things  hut  thyself  I  gave  thee  power, 
And  mv  own  will.     T.e  thy  swift  iniM-hicfs  sent  ' 

To  III  ,  ,f  n.MiJ.-;.,,]    r .1.1, 


Let  tl 


i\    m 


uignant  s])iiit  inov, 


I'lioMi.iiii.ts  r.\ lior.M) 


56 


III  (larlciit'ss  ovtr  tlio^c  I  Invt*: 

( )ii  iiic  :iii(l  iniiH-  I  iiii|irc(Mt(; 

'llu;  luiiio.^t  tort  lire  oi  tliy  liatc  ; 
Ami  lliiiN  (IfVotf  to  ;>li'('|ilfss  ai;<)iiy,  2S() 

'I'liis  uiHlfcliuiii^  head  while  thou  must  ici^ii  on  lii;;)!. 

15ut  thou,  who  art  tin-  (ioil  and  Lord:   ()  thou, 
^\  ho  liik'st  with  thy  soul  this  world  of  woe. 

To  whom  all  thin;;s  ol   I'.arth  and  I  leaven  do  how 
In  feai'  and  worship  :  all  ])rL'vailiiiy  foe, —       -S5 

I  eurse  thee  !    Let  a  sutTcrer's  curse 

(Mas])  thee,  his  torture! .  liUe  rt'morse ; 

Till  thine  Inlinity  shall  he 

A  I'ohe  of  envenomed  a^oiiy  ; 
And  thine  Omnijiotenee  a  crown  of  pain,  2!)0 

'Jd  clinj;  like  hurniuL;'  i;old  round  thy  dissolvinj^  ])rain  ! 

Heap  on  thy  soul,  hy  virtue  of  this  Curse, 

111  deeds  ;  then  he  thou  damned,  heholdinj,'  good  ; 
Both  Inlinite  as  is  the  nniverse. 

And  thou,  and  thy  self-tortuilng  sulitiule !         20') 
An  awful  linage  of  calm  j)ower 
Thouiih  now  thou  sittest,  let  the  hour 
Come,  when  thou  must  ai)pear  to  be 
That  whicdi  thou  art  internally. 
And  after  many  a  false  and  fruitless  crime  300 

Scorn  track  thy  lagging  fall  through  boundless  space 
and  time  I 

i'lioMKTIIKMS 

Were  these  niy  words,  ()  Parent? 


'r ir  .  ..,„.. 


Tliev  were  thine. 


rt 


t|l 


5»J 


PROMETIIEVS    I'NBOUNT) 


KOMIVrUKKS 


It  (loth  rcpt'iit  iiie  :   words  are  (luick  and  vain 
(irit't  for  ;i  while  is  l)liiid.  and  so  was  mine. 
I  wish  no  liviiii^  tliiny  to  snt'fer  pain. 


305 


Tni:  IvvHTH 


Misery 


01 


1  misery  to  me. 


That  ffove  at  lenj^th  should  vancjuish  thee! 

^\'ail,  howl  aloud.  Land  and  Sea, 

TIh!  Laitli's  I'ent  heart  shall  answer  ye. 

Howl,  Spirits  of  tin;  livinn'  and  the  dead,  310 

lour  refuge,  your  defenee,  lies  fallen  and  vantiuisLcd  ! 

FntsT  Echo 
Lies  fallen  and  vaiKjuished  I 


Skconi)  Kciio 


Fall 


en  an- 1  va;i 


qu 


IS 


hed 


lOM 


Fear  not:    t  is  but  some  p.'issini;  spasm 
The  Titan  is  nnvan(|nished  still. 


see,  where  tlu'ou 


th 


;h  tl 


le  azure  c 


hasra 


But 

Of  yon  f(>rked  and  snowy  hill. 
Trampling  the  slant  winds  on  high 

With  g()l(h:n-san<hilhMl  feet,  that  glow 
Under  ])luines  of  ]nirple  dye, 
Like  rose-ensanguined  ivory, 

A  Shape  eomes  now. 
Stretching  on  high  from  his  right  hand 
A  serpent-eincturi'd  wand. 


315 


320 


Pa.\th?:a 


If  %     9 


lo   rt  \j  11.:   r»     vv  1  M  Ml  -  >v  (t  lit  ir  I  1 1 


iii-jiiivi,  i*it;ri*iiry, 


O-^) 


pnoMETiiKcs  ryjif,   nd  57 

IitNK 

And  \vlio  are  those  vitli  hydra  tresses 
And  iron  wings  tliaJ  climb  the  wind, 

Whom  the  frowning  God  rej)n>sses, 
Like  vai)()urs  steaming  np  beliiud, 

Clanging  loud,  au  endless  crowd —  330 

Panthea 

These  ?\re  Jove's  tempest-walking  hounds, 
Whom  he  gluts  with  groans  and  hknul, 
When  charioted  on  snl])lun-ous  cloud 

He  bursts  Heaven's  bounds. 

lONE 

Are  they  now  led  from  the  thin  dead,  335 

On  new  pangs  to  be  fed? 

Panthka 
The  Titan  looks  as  ever,  firm,  not  proud. 


'  i 


,n 

Hil 

wi 

First  Fury 


Ha  !  I  scent  life ! 


Second  Fuhv 
Let  me  but  look  into  his  eyes  ! 

TlIIKO    FURV 

Tiie  hope  of  torturing  him  smells  like  a  heap  3^0 

Of  corpses,  to  a  death-bird  after  battle. 

First  Fl'UY 

Darest  thoii  delay,  O  J  lerald !  Take  cheer,  Hounds 
Of  Heii :   vv  lull  ji  ilie  Soh  oi  i>iaia  soou 


|! 

n 

4 

i 

58 


/  'no  MET  UK  I  -S    I  '.V  li  O  UNI) 


Slioul.l  i„;ike  us  foot!  aiul  si)ort  —  wlio  can  pkasc  loner 
'llie  ( )m!iip()tunt  ? 

Mekcury 

Bade  to  voiir  towers  of  iron,       ,'i  i.l 
And  g-nasli,  ln'sido  the  streams  of  fin;  and  wail, 
Your  foodless  tot-tli  !  (ieryon.  arise!   and  (iorgon, 
("liiiiKi'ra,  and  thou  S|.inn\-,  suhth'st  of  fiends,'' 
NVho  niiiiistertd  to  Thebes  Heaven's  poisoned  wine, 
I  nnatural  love,  and  more  unnatural  hate:  ;joi} 

These  shall  perform  your  task. 

FlK.^T    FuiiV 

Oh.  mercy!  mercy ! 
We  die  with  our  desire  :  drive  us  not  back  ! 


Mkik  niv 
Croueli  then  in  silence  ! 

Awful  Sufferer! 
To  thee  unwillinir,  most  unwillinulv 
I  eome,  by  the  Groat  Father's  will" driven  down,      .S.-.r, 
to  execute  a  doom  of  new  revenue. 
Alas!   I  pity  thee,  and  hate  myself 
That  I  can  do  no  more:   aye  from  thy  slight 
Keturning-,  for  a  season,  Heaven  seems  Hell, 
So  thy  worn  form  i)iirsues  me  night  and  day.  ;ir.O 

Smilingv  reproach.      AVise  art  thou,  firm  ami  o,,oil, 
Hut  vaiidy  wouldst  stand  forth  alone  in  strife 
Against  the  Omnii)otent :  as  yon  ilear  lamps 
That  measure  and  divide  the  weary  years 
I'rom  whicji  there  is  no  refuge,  long  liavc  taught,    .^n.-) 
And  long  must  te;ic]i.      Kveu  now  thy  Torturer  I'lrms 
With  the  strange  might  of 

I    Iwk     lli^klt-^nci      %rrli.^     ....1 1 


*  v<     ijAvy  1 


unnnagined  jiains 
Hell, 


iiwUiiica   lit 


piiOMETiiEUs  rxnoujsrn  69 

And  my  commission  is  to  lead  tlieiu  ln'ie. 

Or  what  more  sul)tlt',  foul,  or  .savai;e  fii'uds  37U 

People  the  ahyss,  and  leave  them  to  their  task. 

lie  it  not  sol  There  is  a  seeret  known 

To  thee,  and  to  none  elsi'  of  livin^i:  thintrs, 

\\  liii'h  may  transfer  the  sceptre  of  wide  Heaven, 

The  fear  of  which  pei'plcxes  the  Sujtreme  :  375 

('lotlie  it  in  words,  and  hid  it  clasp  his  throne 

hi  intercession:  bend  thy  soul  in  ])raver, 

And,  like  a  suppliant  in  some  yor^cous  fane, 

Let  the  will  kneel  within  thy  hau;;hty  lieart : 

For  benefits  and  meek  .submission  tame  3b0 

The  fiercest  and  the  miiihtiest. 


•  in 


pKOMKTHF.rS 

Evil  mind.s 
Change  good  to  their  own  nature.     1  gave  uU 
lie  has:   and  in  return  he  chains  me  here 
Years,  ages,  night  and  day  :  whether  tlu   Sun 
Split  my  ])arched  skin,  or  in  the  moony  night  385 

The  crvstal-winiicd  snow  din"'  I'ound  mv  hair: 
AN  hilst   xiy  beloved  lace  is  tramjiled  down 
]\v  his  Miought-cxecuting  ministers. 
Such  is  the  Tyrant's  ree<jnipense.     'T  is  just : 
lie  who  is  evil  can  receive  no  good;  390 

And  for  a  world  bestowed,  or  a  friend  lost, 
lie  can  feel  hate,  fear,  shame;  not  gratitude: 
He  but  reipiites  me  for  his  own  misdeed. 
Kindness  to  such  is  keen  reproach,  which  breaks 
With  bitter  stings  the  light  sleep  of  Revenge.  395 

Submission,  thou  dost  know  I  cannot  trv  : 
For  wliat  sul)mission  but  fiiat  fatal  woi'd,\ 
Tiie  (h'ath-se;d  of  luaid^ind's  caplivitv, 
Like  the  Sicilian's  hair-snspenik'd  sword. 


hi  I 


f 


t.i.: 


GO 


rii  OME  THE  US    UN  li  O  UNI) 


Wliicli  treinl)lo:^  o'er  his  crown,  would  lie  accept,     400 

Or  could  I  yield?   Wliicli  yet  1  will  not  yield. 

Let  otliers  Hatter  Criuic,  wliei'c  it  sits  iliroiiecl 

In  brief  ()uini])()tenee  :   secuiv  are  tliev 

For  .Justice,  when  triuuii)hant,  will  weep  down 

I*itv.  not  punishuient,  on  her  own  wrongs,  406 

Too  much  avenued  hv  tiiose  who  err.      1  wait, 

Kiidurin^  thus,  the  i'etril)utive  hour 

Wiiicli  sinct'  we  spaki!  is  even  nearer  now. 

Ihit  hark,  the  hell-hounils  clamour.      Fear  delay  I 

liehold  I   Heaven  lowers  under  thy  Father's  frown.  410 

MkIK  L'llY 

Oh,  that  we  nii^ht  he  spared:   I  to  inflict, 
And  tliou  to  suffer  I   Ouee  more  answer  uie : 
Thou  knowest  not  the  j)eriod  of  Jove's  power? 

Prometheus 
I  know  hut  this,  that  it  nuist  come. 


Mkkcukv 


Alas! 


Thou  canst  not  count  thy  years  to  come  of  pain?     415 

Pkomktmeits 

They  last  while  Jove  nuist  reign  ;  nor  more,  nor  less 
Do  1  desire  or  fear. 


Mk.r<  cnv 

Yet  ])ause,  and  i)lunge 
Into  eternity,  where  recorded  time. 
Even  all  that  we  nnau'ine,  aL^e  on  ane. 
iSeenis  hut  a  point,  and  tlu;  leluetant  nund 
Flags  wearily  in  its  unending  flight, 


420 


piLOMETiiEUs  rxnn  und 


61 


Till  it  sink,  dizzy,  blind,  lost,  sliolterless  : 
P<M('h;ino('  it  has  not  nrinbert'd  tlio  slow  yuars 
Which  thou  nuist  spend  in  toitiue,  unr»pii(;ved  ?    424 

I'liuMI/niKUS 

IVrchance  no  thonglit  can  count  thcni,  yet  they  pass. 

Mkk*  T  uv 

If  th(^u  niijihtst  dwiU  anionj;'  li.e  (iods  the  while 
Lapped  in  voluptuous  joy  ? 

Pkomktukus 

I  would  not  (}uit 
This  bleak  ravine,  these  unrepentant  pains. 

MKKrrKY 

Alas!  I  wonder  at,  yet  pity  thee. 

Promktukus 

Pity  the  self-desj^ising  slaves  of  Heaven,  430 

Not  me,  within  whose  mind  sits  peace  serene. 
As  licht  in  the  sun,  throned.      How  vain  is  talk! 
Call  up  the  fiends  ! 

loNE 

O  sister,  look!   White  fire 
Has  cloven  to  the  roots  yon  hu^e  snow-loaded  cedar ; 
How  fearfully  (iod's  thunder  liowls  behind  !  4,sr) 

]\rFK(  ritv 

I  must  obey  his  words  and  thine  :  alas  ! 
Most  heavily  remorse  han<;s  at  mv  heart! 

PaXiHF.A 

See  where  t^'e  child  of  Heaven,  with  wiuircd  feet. 
Runs  down  the  slanted  snnlijrht  of  the  dawn. 


U  i 


M 


m 


f|  J 


(;2 


pnoMrruF.vs  rxiiorxD 


iD.Ni: 


Deal'  Slater,  close  tliy  ]>]tiiiics  over  thine  ovi's,  IK 

Lest  tin. II  l,rli,,l(|  and  di...      Tliry  come,  they  come, 
nhii'k.iiiii-  the  hiith  -if  dav  uitii  coinith'xs  wiie^s, 
And  hollow  undeinealh.  Id^e  death. 


I""ii;>i'  I-'iKv 


Prometheus ! 


Skcovi)  Fcia- 


(         ( 


Immortal  Titan  I 


TllIKI)  F'l-KV 

('liampion  of  Ilenven's  slaves! 

PuoMKTIlKrS 

]fL  whom  some  dreadt'nl  voice  invokes  is  here  ;         li") 
Pmmetheus.  the  chained  Titan.      lIoiTil)le  forms, 
What  and  who  are  ye'/  Never  yet  there  came 
Phantasms  so  foul  thronnh  monster-teemino-  Hell 
Prom  tile  all-miscreative  hrain  of  Jove; 
Whilst  T  l)ehold  such  exeerahle  shapes,  450 

Meihiiiks  [  n-row  like  what  I  contemplate, 
And  laugh  and  stare  in  loathsome  sympathy. 

FmsT  Fury 
We  are  the  ministers  of  pain,  and  fear. 
And  disai)pointment,  and  mistrust,  and  hate. 
And  (din-in^-  crime:   and,  as  lean  do^s  pursue  to.-. 

Through    wood    and    lake    some    stiiu-k   ami    sobhin" 
lawn. 

We    tra(dv    all    things    that    weep,    and    bleed,    and 
live. 

When  tl  e  great  King-  betrays  them  to  our  will. 


riiOMFTIlET'S    rS'IiOl^XT)  G3 

PKOMKTMF.rs 

0  inanv  foiu'ful  natures  in  niu!  iiaiiic, 

1  know  ye;   ami  tlii'se  lakes  and  eelioes  know  100 
TIh!  darkness  ami  the  elan<,nHir  of  your  \viii<;s. 

P.nt  wliv  more  hideons  than  youi-  lo-athed  selves 
(iatlier  ye  up  in  legions  from  the  deep? 

Sk<'om>  FruY 
We  knew  not  that :    Sistei's,  rejoice,  rejoice  ! 

Pkomethkus 
Can  aught  exult  in  its  deformity?  465 

SkCONI)   Fl'KV 

Tlie  beauty  of  delij^lit  makes  lovers  glad, 

(iazintr  on  one  another:  so  are  we. 

As  from  the  rose  whieh  the  pale  priestess  kneels 

To  "-ather  for  lier  festal  erown  of  flowers 

The  aerial  crimson  falls,  ilushing  her  cheek,  470 

So  from  our  victim's  destined  agony 

The  shade  which  is  our  form  invests  us  round  ; 

Else  we  are  shapeless  as  our  mother  Night. 

Pki>mkthi;us 

I  laugh  your  power,  and  his  who  sent  you  here. 

To  lowest  scorn.      Pour  forth  the  cup  of  pain  !         475 

FlKST  FUKY 

Thou  thinkest  we  will  rend  thee  bone  from  bone. 
And  nerve  from  nerve,  working  like  lire  within? 

PUOMKTUKUS 

aiil  r.i  Vuy  uioincnL.  ^i::  i:^----    =  ■  • - 

Ye  rend  me  now :   1  care  not. 


[    t  > 


64 


rnOMETHKUS    rNTiOUND 
Skcom)   Fri;v 


Dost 


nnairine 


We  will  Imt  hw^h  info  tliy  lidlcss  eyes'^  48( 

1'i;n>i|.:TiiKrs 
I  vy.;-!)  not  what  y.'  do,  I.iit  what  ye  snfYcr, 
l?''in,-L'vil.      Cni.'l  was  tli.-  pow.-r  which  culled 
"i  on,  or  aught  else  so  wretched,  into  li^lit. 

TiiiHi)  FrKv 
Thoii  thiiik'st  we  will  live  through  tliec,  one  by  one, 
Like  animal  life,  and,  though  we  can  ohscure  not    4.s5 
The  soul  which  burns  within,  that  we  will  dwell 
Beside  it,  like  :i  vain  lon<l  nndtitude 
Vexing  the  self-content  of  wisest  men  : 
That  we  will  he  dread  thought  beneath  thy  brain, 
And  foul  desire  round  thine  astonished  heart,       '  490 
And  blood  within  thy  labyrinthine  veins 
Crawling  like  agony  ? 

PliOMKTIIKUS 

W  by,  ye  are  thus  now ; 
Yet  am  I  king  over  myself,  and  rule 
The  torturing  and  conflicting  tb-  Migs  within, 
As  Jove  rules  you  when  Hell  grous  mutinous.         495 

CiioKrs   OK   FriUKs 

From   the  ends   of   the  eaith,  from  the   ends  of  the 
earth, 

Where  the  night  has  its  grave  and  the  morning  its 
birth, 

Come.  come,  come! 
O  ye  who  shake  iiills  witli  tlie  sercnm  nf  v.-.j^v  5>-.-:,4^V. 
When  cities  sink  iiowlin^-  in  ruin  ;  and  ye  5uo 


65 


50S 


510 


515 


I'UitMKTllKlS    VMior.M) 

AVho  with  wiiii^h'ss  footsteps  tniiiiitl*'  tlin  sea. 
Ami  close  upon  Slu])\viock  and  Famine's  tnu-k, 
Sit  chatterinix  witli  j<>v  on  the  foodloss  wreck; 
( 'onie.  come,  come  ! 
Leave  tlu-  bed,  low,  ('(.Id,  and  red, 
Strewed  beneath  a  nation  dead; 
Leave  the  hatred,  as  in  ashes 

Fire  is  left  for  future  Imrning: 
It  will  burst  in  bloodier  Hashes 

When  ye  stir  it,  soon  returnini,': 
Leave  the  self-contempt  implanted 
In  youn<;  spirits,  sense-enchanted, 

Sliserv's  yet  nnkindled  fuel: 
Leave  Hell's  secrets  half  unchanted 

To  the  maniac  dreamer  :  cruel 
More  than  ye  can  be  with  hate, 
Is  he  with  fear. 

Come,  come,  pome! 
We  are  steaminj;  up  from  Hell's  wide  gate 
And  we  burthen  the  blasts  of  the  atmosphere, 
But  vainly  we  toil  till  ye  come  here. 

loxE 
Sister,  I  hear  the  thunder  of  new  wings. 


Pantuk V 
These  solid  mountains  quiver  with  the  sound, 
F:ven  as  the  tremulous  air:  their  shadows  make      524 
The  space  within  my  plumes  more  black  than  night. 

FlHST    FrRY 

Your  call  was  as  a  winged  car. 
Driven  on  whirlwinds  fast  and  far ; 
It  rapt  us  from  red  gulfs  ot  war. 


5'Jl 


fl 

I 

jf 

•11 

HI 


fil 


G6 


rnoMirniKi  s  r.\in>vsit 
Sk<  (».m>  Kikv 
From  wide  citi<;s,  f:iiiiiiu--\vastt'(l ; 

'I'liiKK  \\n\ 
Ground  lialf  litunl,  ami  blood  untasted  ;        b'M 

FnrUTII    Fl'HY 

Kindly  com-javcs,  stfiii  and  cold. 

Where  blood  with  ^old  is  bonght  and  sold; 

Fiirn    Fruv 

From  tlio  furnace,  white  and  hot, 
In  which  — 

A   Fruv 

Sj)eak  not:  wliisper  not  : 
I  know  all  that  ye  would  tell,  rtWr^ 

])nt  to  speak  nii^^ht  break  the  spell 
"Which  nuist  bend  the  Invincible, 

The  stern  of  thoni;ht ; 
He  yet  delies  the  deepest  power  of  ilell. 


Fuuv 


Tear  the  veil ! 


Anotiiku  Fukv 
It  is  torn. 

CilOKlJS 

The  i)ale  stars  of  the  morn   5lo 
Shine  on  a  misery,  dire  to  be  borne. 
Dost  thou   faint,    nii-hty  Titan?    We  lau-h  thee  to 
scorn. 

Dost  thou  boast  the  clear  knowledge  thou  waken'dst 
jr  man '! 


?1 


riiOMirniEcs  rsiiocMt  67 

Then    \v:is    kiiulk'il    williin    liim    :i   thirst    wliicli    out- 


ran 


50 


565 


Those  pciishiii-  wntrrs  :  :i  thirst  of  fit-rct'  fever,      5ir, 
ilop"',  h)Vt',  (h>iilit.  ih'sire.  which  eoiisiiiiie  him  iov  ever- 
One  eanir       ith  of  ,i;cnth'  worth. 
Smiling;'  on  tht;  sanguine  earth; 
His  words  ontlived  lilni,  like  swift  jxiisoii 

Witiieiin;^  u\>  ti  iilli,  peace,  and  pity. 
Look!    wlieie  round  tlie  wi(h'  horizon 

Many  a  niillion-peoi)led  city 
Vonuts  smoke  in  the  hri_L;lit  air; 
Mark  that  outery  of  (h-spairl 
"r  is  liis  mihl  and  t^enth'  <;!iost 

Wailing-  for  the  faith  he  liindh'd: 
Look  ai;ain!   the  flames  almost 

To  a  ^low■-w•()rm■s  lamp  have  dwindled  : 
The  survivors  round  the  emhers 
Gather  in  dread. 

Joy,  joy,  joy  I 
Past  a<^es  crowd  on  thee,  but  eaeh  one  remembers; 
And  the  future  is  dark,  and  the  i)resent  is  spread 
Like  a  pillow  of  thorns  for  thy  slumberless  head. 


Sk.mk  Hours  I 

Drops  of  bloody  aj^ony  flow 

From  his  white  and  (piiverlng  brow. 

Grant  a  little  respite  now  : 

See  I   a  disenchanted  nation 

Springs  like  day  from  desolation  ; 

To  Truth  its  state  is  dedicate, 

And  Free<lom  leads  it  fortli.  her  mate; 

A  le'Moned  band  of  liidvcd  brothers, 


660 


.')(>.•> 


570 


Tfi  r 11  .   ..l,:i,l..,,.. 

>»  iiijiil    jLi»J»C   l-iiii^   ;-i- ;i**-i*  wii 


;!I] 


Lji*  i 


G8 


Si:\iii  iiDKis    II 


1  is  aiiotiier's : 

Sri;  how  Iviiidrcil  Diiinlrr  kill  | 

'I'ls  tlir  villi;!-,. -liinr  furdcatli  Mild  sin.         r,ir, 
\>\iun\.  lik,.  II, .\v  will,'.  Iiiilililt's  wlihiu: 
I  ill   I  )cs|>,iir  siiiotlii  Is 
TliL'  .strug-lm--  w,)il,|,  uliicli  .I;iv,.s  ;iiid  fvr:iiits  win. 

[.!//  f/ir  FlKUI.s  ra/iis/i,  rjrfcj,f  (,,ie. 

Iom: 

llaik,  sister!   what  a  low  vi't  dreadful  '^vonn 
(^iiitf  uiisii|i|»iess,.,l  is  tcaiinn'  up  the  heart 
Of  the  L;()<id  Titan,  as  storms  tear  the  deep. 
And  heasts  hear  the  se.i  moaii  in  inland  eaves. 
Darest  thou  ol. serve  how  th,"  lieiids  torture  him? 

Pan  riiCA 
Alas!   1  looked  forth  tuiee,  but  will  no  luorc. 


580 


Tom: 


What  didst  thon  see? 


Pantiii:a 


A  woful  si^ht  :   a  youth 
\\  ith  i)atient  looks,  nailed  to  a  enicitix. 


585 


What  next? 


loNi-; 


i'-VVTHKA 

Tin;  lieaven  around,  the  earth  below, 
.Vas  })eo|)l..d  with  Ihiek  shapes  of  human  death, 
All  horrible,  and  wrouiiht  by  human  hands: 
And  some  anneiired  th.e  work  of  ]>!•!••.•!!•  l-.i-^vfc 
For  men  were  slowly  killed  by  frowns  and  smile 


es 


riioMhrriii'i's  iwnor.M)  69 

Ami  otlitT  sights  too  foul  t(»  s|n:ik  ;iii(l  live 

\\'ciT  waiidci  ini;  liy.      Lft  us  tint  tempt  WMisr  fear 

r,\   lookiiii;  I'oilli  :    tliMSf  groans  arc  -rirf  fimir^li. 

H.hold  :m  riiiblcm:   tlio^'  who  do  oiidmo  •'iO.'? 

l)i'i']i    \vfoiit;s    for    iiiaii.  and    scorn    :unl   rliains,    bnt 

lii'a]) 
'llioiisandfuld  tornu'nt  on  tlicnisclvos  and  liini. 

i'lioMinni'ts 

IviMnit  tlic  an<;iiisli  of  tiiat  lighted  stare; 

Close  those  wan  lips:   let  that  thorn-wounded  hrow 

Stream  not  with  Mood  :  it  niin<;les  with  thy  tears  I  GOO 

I"ix,  iix  those  tortured  orbs  in  jicai-e  and  death, 

So  thy  sieU  throes  shake  not  that  erueilix. 

So  those  pale  lingers  i)lay  iit)t  with  thy  ,<;ore. 

Oil  horrihle!   Thy  name  1  will  not  speak. 

It  hath  l)eeome  a  <'ursi-.      I  se«',  I  see  606 

The  wise,  the  mild,  the  lofty,  and  the  just. 

Whom  thy  slaves  hate  for  hrinu'  like  to  theo. 

Some  Imntfd  hy  foul  lies  from  their  heart's  home, — 

An  early-chosen,  latedamented  home. — 

As  hoo(ied  ounces  cling  to  the  driven  hind  ;  610 

Sonu   linked  to  eori)ses  in  unwholesome  cells; 

Si.ine —  Hear  I  not  the  multitude  lau-;!!  loud  .-  — 

Impaled  in  Ilnp.M-inii;  lire:   and  mighty  realms 

Float  l>y  my  feet,  like  sea-njuooted  isles. 

Whose  sons  are  kneade<l  down  in  common  hlood     filS 

P.y  the  red  light  of  their  own  burning  homes. 


I   '' 


J> 


I' 


'f 


n 


a 


N 


Ft'ltY 


•>.  ...-.,..  f  1,.-. 


n  f.   rrff 


F)lo<)(l  linMi  (•aii>L  Net',  uuu  uti 

Worse  thiiij^s,  unheard,  unseen,  remain  behind 


70 

Worse '! 


rilOMETIIErs    VNUOUND 

Pl{O.MKTIli:CS 


Ol'O 


f)2r, 


In  each  Innaan  lieart  tcrroi-  survives 
ilie  rmii  it  lias  oo,.„e,l  .   tliu  loftiest  fear 
All  that  they  would  disdain  to  think  were  true: 
llypoerisy  and  custom  make  their  ndnds 
The  fanes  of  many  a  worsiup,  i;o\v  outworn. 
They  dare  not  devise  yood  for  mans  estat'N 
And  yot  they  know  not  that  thev  do  not  <lare. 
lie  good  want  power,  but  to  weep  barren  tears, 
i  he  powerful  goodness  want:   worse  nee<l  for  them 
Ihe  wise  want  love  :  and  those  who  love  want  wisdom; 
And  aJl  best  thmos  are  thus  eonfused  to  ill. 
Many  are  strong  and  rieli,  and  would  be  just, 
P>ut  live  among  their  sufiering  fellow-men 
As  if  none  felt  :  they  know  not  wliat  they  do. 

Pkometheus 
Thy  words  are  like  a  cloud  of  winged  snakes; 
And  yet  I  pity  those  they  torture  not. 

FriiY 
Thou  pitiest  them  '?  I  speak  no  more! 


(i.'iU 


635 

[  Vanishes. 


Pku.mkthkl-s 


,  Ah  woe ! 

All  woe.   Alas:   pain,  pain  ever,  for  over! 
I  ''lose  my  tearh'ss  eyes,  but  see  more  elear 
Jhy  works  within  my  woe-illumined  mind 
ihou  subtle  Tyrant  .'    IVaee  is  i:-  the  ..-rave- 
Ihe  grave  hi.K.s  all  things  b.-autiful  and  good. 
-I  am  a  (iod  and  cannot  find  it  fl„.r« 


640 


,M 


PROMETHEUS    UNBOUND 


71 


Nor  would  I  seek  it:  for,  tliou-h  drc'id  revenge, 
This  is  (Iffeat,  fierce  King!  not  victory. 
The  sights  with  which  thou  torturest  gird  niy  soul 
With  new  endurance,  till  the  hour  arrives  ^5 

WTicn  they  shall  he  no  types  of  things  which  are. 

Panthea 
Alas  I  what  sawest  thou  ? 

Prometheus 

There  are  two  woes: 
To  speal;,  and  to  hehold  :  thou  spare  me  one. 
Names  are  there,  Nature's  sacred  watchwords,  they 
Were  home  aloft  in  bright  emhlazonry  ;  050 

The  nations  thionged  around,  and  cried  aloud, 
As  with  one  voice.  Truth,  liberty,  and  h)ve ! 
Suddenly  fierce  confusion  fell  from  heaven 
Among  them  ;  there  was  strife,  deceit,  and  fear 
Tyrants  rushed  in,  and  did  divide  the  spoil. 
This  was  the  shadow  of  the  truth  I  saw. 


6r)5 


The  Eaktii 

I  felt  thy  toiture,  son,  with  such  mixed  joy 

As  pain  and  virtue  give.    To  cheer  thy  state, 

1  bid  ascend  those  subtle  and  fair  spirits,  6-''9 

Whose  homes  are  the  dim  caves  of  human  thought, 

And  who  inhabit,  as  birds  wing  the  wind. 

Its  world-surrounding  ether:  they  behold 

Beyond  that  twilight  realm,  as  in  a  glass, 

The  fut.ue  :   may  they  speak  comfort  to  thee  ! 


Panthea 


GG5 


Look,  sister,  where  a  troop  of  spirits  gather. 

Like  Hocks  of  elouds  in  sjuing's  delightful  weather, 

Thronirin  r  i"  the  bine  -Mr! 


72 


riiOMETHEUS   UNliOUNL 

lo.VK 

And  see  !  more  come, 


675 


li.kc  fountain-vapours  ulien  the  winds  are  dumb, 
That  climb  uj)  the  ravine  in  scattered  lines. 
AvC  hark  .'  is  it  the  music  of  the  pines  ?  670 

Is  it  the  lake  ?  Is  it  the  waterfall  ? 

Panthea 
'Tis  something  sadder,  sweeter  far  than  all. 

Chorus  of  Spikits 
From  un remembered  ages  we 
Gentle  guides  and  guardians  be 
Of  heaven-oppressed  mortality  ! 
And  we  breatlie,  and  sicken  not, 
The  atmosphere  of  human  thought : 
Be  it  dim,  and  dank,  and  gray. 
Like  a  storm-extinguished  day, 
Travelled  o'er  by  dying  gleams : 

Be  it  bright  as  all  between 
Cloudless  skies  and  windless  streams. 

Silent,  liquid,  and  serene. 
As  the  birds  within  the  wind. 
As  the  fish  within  the  wave, 
As  the  thoughts  of  man's  own'mind 

Float  through  all  above  the  grave  : 
^Ve  make  tliere  our  liquid  lair. 
Voyaging  cloudlike  and  unpent 
Through  the  boundless  element. 
Tlience  we  bear  the  prophecy 
Which  begins  and  ends  in  thee ! 


loVK 

More  vet  come,  one  bv  nn.^  •  f  i,, 

-  -J  •      •■'?•_     iiii     *i,i* 

Looks  radiant  as  the  air  around  a  star. 


680 


685 


690 


1  ^.i 

itiiii  mem 


A' 
\ 


rnOMKTllE I  '.S    ( 'NB O I  uVT) 
FlKST    SriKIT 

On  a  liattlc-tniinpet's  blast 
I  fled  hitlier,  fast,  fast,  fast, 
'Mid  tlie  darkness  upward  cast. 
From  the  dust  of  creeds  outworn. 
From  the  tyrant's  banner  torn, 
Gathering  round  me,  onward  borne, 
There  was  mingled  many  a  cry  — 
Freedom!   Hope!  Death!  Victory! 
Till  they  faded  through  the  sky ; 
And  one  sound,  above,  around, 
One  sound,  beneath,  around,  above, 
Was  moving  ;  't  was  tlie  soul  of  love  : 
'T  was  the  hope,  the  ]n-o])hecy, 
Which  begins  and  ends  in  thee. 

Second  Spirit 

A  rainbow's  arch  stood  on  the  sea. 
Which  rocked  beneath,  immovably  ; 
And  the  triumphant  storm  did  flee, 
Like  a  conqueror,  swift  anu  proud, 
Between,  with  many  a  captive  cloud, 
A  shapeless,  dark  and  rai)id  crowd. 
Each  i)y  lightning  riven  in  half. 
I  heard  the  thunder  hoarsely  laugh  : 
^li  'htv  fleets  were  strewn  like  chaff 
And  spread  beneath  a  hell  of  death 
O'er  the  white  waters.     I  alit 
On  a  great  ship  lightning-split. 
And  speeded  hither  on  the  sigh 
Of  one  who  gave  an  enemy 
His  plank,  then  plunged  aside  to  die. 


73 


695 


700 


705 


710 


715 


720 


H 


n 


hi 


74 


730 


735 


PnOMETUErs    VNliOUX]) 
Tmiil)    S I'll; IT 

I  sato  beside  a  s:ige's  bed, 

And  tlie  lump  was  hurniiiy  red  7j 

Near  the  book  where  lie  had  fed, 

^\  heii  a  Dream  with  plmnes  of  Haine 

To  his  pillow  Iioveriny  came, 

And  I  knew  it  was  the  same 

Whieh  had  kindled  lonn-  ao-o 

ity,  ehxjuenee,  and  woe  ; 
And  the  world  awhile  below 
Wore  the  shade  its  lustre  made. 
It  has  borne  me  here  as  fleet 
As  Desire's  lightning  feet: 
1  must  ride  it  back  ere  morrow, 
Or  the  sage  uill  wake  in  soi'row. 

FoHHTII    SpIKIT 

On  a  i)oet\s  lips  J  slept, 

Dreaming  like  a  love-adept 

In  tile  sound  his  breathing  kept:  740 

Nor  seeks  nor  finds  he  mortal  blisses, 

l^ut  feeds  on  the  aerial  kisses 

Of  shapes  that  haunt  thought's  wildernesses. 

lie  will  wateh  from  dawn  to  gloom 

The  hdve-reflected  sun  illume 

The  yellow  bees  in  the  ivy-bloom, 

Nor  heed  nor  see,  what  things  they  be  i 

Bnt  from  these  create  lit;  can 

Forms  more  real  than  living  man, 

Nurslings  of  immortality! 

One  of  these  awakened  me. 

And  I  sped  to  succour  thee. 


71.' 


l-iO 


l! 


riiOMETIIEUS    I'NUOUND  ^5 

loN'K 

iVliold'st  thou  not  two  shapes  from  the  ea>t  and  west 
("oiiie,  as  two  (lovus  to  one  beloveil  nest, 
Twin  nnrslin;;s  of  tlie  all-sustaining  air,  "•"'•'"> 

On  swift  still  wings  glide  down  the  atniosidiere? 
And,  hark:  their  sweet,  sad  voiees !  'tis  despair 
Min"led  with  love  and  then  dissolved  in  sound. 

Paxthea 
Canst  thou  speak,  sister?  all  my  words  are  drowned. 

lo.VK 

Their  beauty  gives  me  voice.    See  how  they  float    7G0 

On  their  sustaining  wings  of  skyey  grain, 

Orange  and  azure  deepening  into  gold  ! 

Their  soft  smiles  light  the  air  like  a  star's  fire. 

CnoHUs  OF  Spirits 
Ilast  thou  beheld  the  form  of  Love  ? 

Fifth  Si'ikit 

As  over  wide  dominions 

I  sped,  like  some  swift  cloud  that  wings  the  wide  air's 
wildernesses,  765 

That    i)lanet-crested    shape    swept    by    on    lightning- 
braided  ])!nions. 

Scattering  the  liquid  joy  of  life  from  his  ambrosial 
tresses : 

His  footsteps  paved  the  world  with  light;  but  as  I 
passed  't  was  fading. 

And  hollow  ruin  yawned  behind  :  great  sages  bound 
in  madness. 

And  headless  ])at riots,  and  pale  youths  who  perished, 
unuphraiding,  ^'^^ 


f  ^ 


i'l 


70 


PllOMETlIEVS    UNIiorXD 

Gleamed   in  the  nio|,t.    I  wandered  <,Vr,  till  thou,  () 

Kin^-  of  sadness, 
Turnr.l   hy  thy  snii!e  the  worst   I   saw  to  rec.dlected 


laiiness. 


Sixth  Si'ikit 
All,  sister  :    Desolation  is  a  delicate  thinj;: 
It  walks  not  on  the  eartli,  it  floats  not  on  the  air, 
J'.ut   treads   with  silent  footstep,  and  fans  with  silent 
\vinj4' 

The  tender  hopes  whi.di  in  their  hearts  the  best  and 
gentlest  l)ear  ; 

Who,  soothed   to  false   repose  hy  the  fanning  plumes 
above. 

And  the  music-stirring  motion  of   its  soft  and  busy 
feet,  ^ 

Dream    visions   of   aerial   joy,  and  call  the  monster 

Love, 
And  wak.',  and  fin.l  the  shadow  Pain,  as   he  whom 

780 


now  we  greet. 


Ciiouus 
Though  Ruin  now  Love's  shadow  be, 
Following  him.  destroyingly. 

On  Death's  wliite  and  winged  steed, 
Which  the  fleetest  cannot  flee. 

Trampling  down  l,oth  flower  and  weed,     785 
Alan  and  beast,  and  foul  and  fair. 
Like  a  tenijx'st  through  the  air; 
Thou  shalt  (piell  this  horseman  grim, 
Woundless  though  in  heart  or  limb. 


Pkomkthki's 
spirits  ;   Jiow  know  ye  this  shall  be  ? 


790 


riiOMETIIEl'S    rX HOUND  77 

CnOKi's 

In  the  atmosphere  we  breathe, 
As  Imds  g;\i)\v  red  when  the  snow-storms  flee, 

From  sprini;-  uatherini;-  np  hcneatli, 
"Whose  mihl  winds  shake  tlie  elder-hrake. 
And  the  waiKh'rini;-  herdsmen  know  795 

That  the  white-tliorn  soon  will  blow: 
AVisdom,  Justice,  Love,  and  Peace, 
When  they  strugfjle  to  increase. 

Are  to  us  as  soft  winds  be 

To  shepherddmys.  tiie  propliecy  800 

AVhi(di  begins  and  ends  in  thee. 


loNE 

Where  are  the  Spirits  fled  ? 

Pa.nthea 

Only  a  sense 
Remains  of  them,  like  the  omnipotence 
Of  music,  when  the  inspired  voice  and  lute 
Lanrjiiish,  ere  yet  the  responses  are  mute, 
Whicli  throup;]!  the  deep  and  labyrinthine  sold. 
Like  echoes  through  h)ng  caverns,  wind  and  roll. 


805 


PuoMK/rnKi's 

ITow  lair  these  air-born  shai)esl   and  yet  T  feel 

Most  vain  all  hope  but  love  :  and  thou  art  far, 

Asia!  who,  when  my  being  overflowed,  810 

Wert  like  a  golden  chalice  to  bright  wine 

Which  else  had  sunk  into  the  thirsty  dust. 

All  things  are  still:  alnsl   how  heavily 

This  (juiet  morning  weighs  njxjn  my  h(>art : 

Though    I    should    dream    I    could    even    sleep  with 


ill! 


t'- 

i'i-'  i 


ii 


78 


PnOMKTlIErs    VS BOUND 


I 


1   i 


If  sliiiiilxM-  wore  dan'wA  not.     I  would  fain 

I5o  wliiit  it  is  my  ik'stiny  to  be, 

Tliu  siiviour  and  the  stivn-tli  of  suffering  man, 

Or  sink  into  tlie  ori-iiial  <;idf  of  tliinj;,s:° 

Tliciv  is  no  ai^ony,  and  no  solace  left  ;  S20 

Karfli  can  console,  Heaven  can  torment  no  more. 

Pa  NT  hi;  A 
I  last  thou  forgotten  one  who  watches  thee 
The  cold  dark  night,  and  never  sleeps  but  when 
The  shadow  of  thy  spirit  falls  on  her? 

Pi{i).MKTi[i;rs 
I  said  all  hope  was  vain  hut  love:  thou  lovest.         825 

Paxthka 
Deeply  in  tinth  :  but  the  eastern  star  looks  white, 
And  Asia  waits  in  that  far  Indian  vale, 
The  scene  of  her  sad  exile :  rugged  once 
And  desolate  and  frozen,  like  this  ravine  : 
But  now  invested  with  fair  flowers  and  herbs,  S30 

And  haunted  by  sweet  airs  and  sounds,  which  flow 
Among  the  woods  and  waters,  from  the  ether 
Of  her  transforming  presence,  which  would  fade 
If  it  were  mingled  not  with  thine.     Farewell  ! 


ACT   II 

ScKN-K  I.  — Morning.     A   lorehj  rnle  hi    the  Indian 
Caiiniaus.     Asia,  n/one. 

Asia 
From  all  the  blasts  of  heaven  thoii  hast  descended: 


Yes    like 


-j--:iii,  i;ii.L:  .1  LiiUUgiit  VViiieii  uiuktiS 


PROMKTHKl 'S    VS IhH'SI) 


79 


10 


If) 


riiwcintPil  tears  tlin.iii;-  to  the  lioniy  t'ycs, 
And  iR'atin^s  liaunt  tlit-  desolated  heart, 
Wliieh  should  have  Uarut  repose:  thou  hast  descended 
Cradled  in  tempests;   thou  dost  wake,  ()  Spring!        0 
()  child  of  many  winds!    As  suddenly 
I'hou  coniest  as  the  memory  of  a  dream. 
Which  now  is  sad  heeause  it  hath  heen  sweet; 
Like  genius,  ov  like  joy  which  riseth  uj) 
As  from  the  earth,  elothing  with  gulden  clouds 
The  desert  of  our  life. 

This  is  the  season,  this  the  day,  the  hour; 
At  sunrise  thou  shouldst  come,  sweet  sister  nuue, 
Too  long  desired,  tot.  long  delaying,  come! 
How  like  death-worms  the  wingless  moments  crawl! 
The  point  of  one  white  star  is  (juivering  still 
Deep  in  the  orange  liglit  of  widening  morn 
lievond  the  purple  mountains :  through  a  chasm 
Of  wiud-divided  nust  the  darker  lake  20 

IveHects  it;  now  it  wanes:  it  gleams  again 
As  the  waves  fade,  and  as  the  burning  threads 
Of  woven  cloud  unravel  in  pale  air: 
"T  is  lost !  and  through  yon  j)eaks  of  eloudlike  suow 
The  roseate  sunlight  (piivers  :   hear  I  not  25 

The  JOolian  music  of  her  sea-green  plumes 
AVinnowing  the  erin  ,on  dawn?  [I'anthka  enters. 

I  feel,  I  see 
Those  eyes  which  burn  through  smiles  that  fade  in 

tears. 
Like  stars  half-ciuenched  in  mists  of  sUver  dew. 
lieloved  and  most  beautiful,  who  wearest  30 

The  sl-.adow  of  that  soul  by  which  I  live, 
How  late  thou  art  !  the  spjiered  sun  h:ul  climbed 
The  sea  ;  my  heart  was  si(di  with  hope,  before 
The  prinliesb  air  felt  thy  beluleu  pluuiea. 


If 


\  i' 


II 


•  r 


'i 


i^l 


E    M\.    ]■ 


80  rnoMETUEis  rynorxD 

I'antmk.v 
Pardon,  f;r.\'^  Sister!   hut  my  \vin<;s  woro  faint         :ir, 
W  itii  tlie  (Icli^lit  of  ;i  iciiicriilx'n.'d  (Ircaiu, 
As  art'  tilt'  noontide  (diiines  of  suninu'r  wintls 
S;itiat>'  witli  swet't  flowers.      I  was  wont  to  sleep 
reac.fidly,  and  awake  I't-fresln   1  and  ealin, 
Uefore  tlie  sa.Tcd  Titan's  fall,  and  tliv  40 

rnhapiH-  love,  had  niatle,  tlirouj^h  use  and  pity, 
]iotli  love  autl  wot!  f.'iniiliar  to  niv  heart 
As  they  had  j^-'rown  to  thine:  erewhile  I  slept 
Tinier  the  glaucous  caverns  of  old  Ocean 
Within  dim  i)owers  of  j^n-een  and  purple  moss,  45 

Our  yoiuii;-  lone's  soft  and  milky  aims 
I.tcketl  then,  as  now,  behind  my  dark,  moist  liair, 
^^  hile  my  shut  eyes  and  cheek  were  pressed  within 
The  foldeil  de))th  of  her  life-hroathin^-  hosom  : 
JJiit  not  as  now,  since  I  am  made  the  wind  50 

Which  fails  beneath  the  nmsie  that  I  bear 
Of  thy  most  wordless  converse;  since  dissolved 
Into  the  sense  with  which  love  talks,  my  rest 
Was  troubled  and  yet  sweet ;  my  waking  hours 
Too  full  of  care  and  i)ain. 


Anil  let  me  read  thv  dream. 


Asia 

Lift  up  thine  eyes, 


Paxtiika 

As  I  have  said, 
"With  our  sea-sister  at  his  feet  I  slept. 
Ihe  mountain  mists,  condensing  at  our  voice 
Jnder  the  moon,  had  sj)read  tiieir  snowy  flakes, 
From  the  keen  ice  shieldini,^  our  linked  sleep. 
Then  two  dreams  came.     One,  I  remember  not. 


60 


J'liOMETIIErs    rNliO I  NI) 


81 


|)iit  in  tlu'  other  liis  ]);ile  wouiid-vvorn  limbs 

F.U  fiDin  rroinctlH'iis,  aiitl  the  uziin'  nij,'lit 

(ut'W  i;i(li;int  with  the  j;loiv  of  tliivt  form 

Which  lives  uni'h:iii>;«Ml  within,  iiiid  his  voice  fell       e/j 

Like  music  which  makes  <;i<hly  the  dim  brain, 

I'aint  with  intoxic:ition  of  keen  joy: 

"Sister  of  her  whose  footsteps  jtave  the  world 

With  loveliness  —  more  fair  than  an<j;ht  but  her, 

Whose  shadow  thou  art  —  lift  thine  eyea  on  nie  !  "   70 

I  lifted  them  :  the  overpowerinj;  lij^ht 

Of  that  immortal  shai)e  was  shadowed  o'er 

J'.y  love;  which,  from  his  soft  and  flowing;  limbs, 

And  i)assion-i)arted  lips,  and  keen,  faint  eyes, 

Steamed  forth  like  vaporous  fire;  an  atmosphere      75 

Whiidi  wrapt  me  in  its  all-dissolvinjij  i)ower, 

As  the  warm  ether  of  the  niorninj;'  sun 

Wraps  ere  it  drinks  some  cloud  of  wandering  dew. 

I  saw  not,  heai-d  not,  moved  not,  only  felt 

His  presence  flow  and  minj-le  through  my  blood 

Till  it  became  his  life,  and  his  grew  mine, 

And  I  was  thus  absorbed,  until  it  past. 

And  like  the  vapours  when  the  s.in  sinks  down, 

(lathering  again  in  drops  nium  the  pines. 

And  tremulous  as  they,  in  the  deep  night 

My  being  was  comlensed  :  and  as  the  rays 

Of  thought  were  slowly  gathered,  I  could  hear 

His  voice,  whose  accents  lingered  ere  they  died 

Like  footsteps    >f  weak  melody:  thy  name 

Among  the  many  sounds  alone  I  heard  90 

Of  what  mioht  be  articidate  ;  tliough  still 

1  listened  througli  the  night  when  sound  was  none. 

lone  wakened  then,  and  said  to  me : 

41 /"i._„„f  fi-..".;i  :iivMr!r>  wb.nt  trop.bles  me  to-nierlit? 

I  always  knew  what  I  desired  before,  96 


80 


85 


M 


IW 


! 


82 


PnOMETlIKl'S    J'NHOrxi, 


Nor  ovir  found  (lclit;lit  to  wisli  in  vaii). 

I'nit   IKiw    I    (•.iiiiK.t    tril   I  lire   wliat    I    Hcck  ; 

J  kiHiu  not  :  soiii.-tliiii;;-  sw.'ct,  sitico  it  is  sweet 
Kvrii  f(,  (Icsiic:    it   is  tliy  spoit,  false  sist<'i' ; 
Tlioii  Iiast  <Iiscov('ie<I  sonic  cncliantincnt,  oM, 
AViioM'  s|).!is  liavc  stolen  my  s|urit  as  I  slept 
And  ininui.'d  it  with  tliinc:   fm-  wiicn  just  now 
We  kissed,  I  felt  within  thy  parted  lips 
Tiie  sweet  air  that  sustained  nie,  and  the  warmth 
Of  the  life-Mood,  for  loss  of  whieli  I  faint, 
<^iiven'd  between  >  \\v  intertwlniii"-  arms  " 
1  answered  not,  for  tliu  eastern  star  <,new  pale, 
\^nt  fled  to  thee. 


inn 


105 


1 


Asia 

Thon  speakest,  bnt  thy  words 
Are  as  the  air:    I  feel  them  not.    Oh,  lift 
Thine  eyes,  that  1  may  read  his  written  soui !  110 

Pa  NTH  i: A 
I  lift  them,  thou<;li  they  droop  heneatli  the  load 
Of  that  they  would  express:   what  canst  thou  see 
But  thine  own  fairest  siiadow  imaged  there? 

Asia 

Thine  eyes  are  like  tlie  deep,  bhie,  boundless  lieaven 
Contracted  to  two  circles  underneath 
Their  long,  fine  lashes:  dark,  far,  measureless, 
Orb  within  orb,  and  line  through  line  inwoven. 

Pa  XT  Hi:  A 
Why  lookest  thou  as  if  a  spirit  past? 


11.5 


j'UoMirnin's  rwiiors'i} 


A>IA 


Tl 


HMO    IS 


:i  cliaiiL;!' :   ln-vniul  tlirir  imiiost  (lt;}>tli 


I 


sec  .1  sikkIi',  ;i  slwipc 


t  1- 


II. 


:irr:nti| 


IJO 


In  llir  M)ti   li'^lit  of  his  own  siuilrs.  uliirh  siircinl 

l/lKf    iMiliiU I'lMlil    lllc   cliiml-Mir!  ullllilrd    Illiinll. 

I'mmct  I'fiis.  it  i-^  tliiiir!    |)c|iait  ii<»t  yd! 
S.iv  iml  tliosi-  smiles  lliat  ut:  sliall  iiicft  auaiii 
Within  tliat  Ini^lit  iiavilion  whicli  their  heaiiis         1_'5 
Shall  hiiild  oil  tilt;  wasti-  world?   The  dream  is  tola. 
What  shape  is  that  l.etweeii  us'.''    Its  nide  hair 
Koii^heiis  the  wind  that  lifts  it,  its  i-e^Mi'd 
Is  wild  and  qui'-    ,  yet    t  is  a  thln^  of  air. 
For  through  its  j;ray  r<»l»»'  fleams  the  <;()lden  dew    l."() 
Whose  stars  the  noon  has  (juentdied  nt)t. 


Dhkam 

rANTllKA 


Follow !  Follow  I 


It  is  mine  other  dream. 


Asia 
It  disappears. 

Pantiik  > 

It  ])asses  now  into  my  mind.    .Methou;;ht 

As  we  sate  hero,  the  flower-enfolding  buds 

Hurst  t)n  yon  lightning-blasti'd  almond-tree,  ISf) 

When  swift  from  the  white  Scythian  wil'i.'rness 

A  wind  swept  forth  wrinkling:-  the  earth  with  frost: 

I  looked,  and  all  the  hlossoms  were  blown  down; 

Hut  on  each  leaf  was  stamped,  as  the  blue  bells 

Of  Ilyaeinth  tell  AjHyllo's  written  grief,  140 

O,  FOLLOW,  follow! 


II 


iff]  i 


i- 


84  PROMETHEUS   UNIiOUXn 

Asia 

As  you  .si)eak,  your  words 
Fill,  pause  by  pause,  my  own  foi-oottoii  sleoj) 
AN  itii    siiapes.     Mothought    among     the     lawns    to 

gi'tluT 

W  »'  wMiidcrcd,  luideni-.'ath  the  yonnp-  giay  dawn. 
And  iiiultitmU's  of  dense  white  Heeey  elouds  I  IT) 

Were    wandering    in    thiek    Hocks    along   the  moun- 
tains, 
Shepherded  hy  the  slow,  unwilling  wind  ; 
And  the  white  dew  on  uii  new-liladed  grass, 
Just  i)iereing  the  dark  earth,  hung  silently  ; 
And  there  was  more  which  I  reniemher  not :  150 

IJut  on  the  shadows  of  tlie  morning  clouds, 
Athwart  the  purple  mountain  slope,  was  written 
Follow,  O,  follow!  as  they  vanished  hy  ; 
And   on   each    herb,  from   which  Heaven's   dew  had 
fallen, 

The  like  was  stamped,  as  with  a  withcr'-ig  fire;       155 

A  wind  arose  among  the  pines :  it  shook 

The  clinging  nnisic  from  their  houglis.  and  then 

Low,    sweet,    faint     sounds,     like    the     farewell    of 
ghosts. 

Were  heard  :  O,  follow,  follow,  f-OLLOW  ME ! 

And  then  I  said  :   "  Panthea,  look  on  me  I  "  IGC 

But  in  the  depth  of  those  beloved  eyes 

Still  I  saw,  FOLLOW,  FOLLOW  ! 


Echo 


Follow,  follow ! 


Pan'tifka 

Tho  crags,  this  clear  sjiring  morning,  mock  our  voices, 
^ia  tiiey  Vveie  spinL-Longueti. 


riiOMETUEUS    UN  HOUND 
Asia 


It  is  sonic  1)01112 


»0 


1G4 


Around  the  crags.     AVluit  fine  clear  sounds  !     O,  list ! 


EcHOKs  {unseen) 

Eclioes  we  :  listen  ! 

We  cannot  stay : 
As  (lew-stars  j;listen 

Tiien  fade  away  — 
Cliild  of  Ocean ! 


170 


Asia 
Hark  !    Spirits  speak.    Tlie  liquid  responses 
Of  their  aerial  tongues  yet  sound. 

Pant HE A 

I  hear. 

EcHOKS 

O,  follow,  follow, 

As  our  voice  recedeth 
Through  the  caverns  hollow, 
Where  the  forest  spreadeth ; 
{More  distant.) 
O,  follow,  follow ! 
Through  the  caverns  hollow, 
As  the  song  floats  thou  pursue, 
Where  the  wild  bee  never  flew, 
■      Throuuli  the  noontide  darkness  deep, 
By  tlie  odour-breathing  slec]) 
Of.  faint  night-flowers,  and  tlie  waves 
At  the  fountain-lighted  caves. 
While  our  music,  wild  and  sweet, 
IMocks  thy  gently  falling  feet, 
/  M.:i  1  ..f  /I,.,. .1,1  ' 


175 


180 


186 


WM- 


.*:¥-, 


I. 


86 


l-liOMKTlIEUS    UNnoi'Mj 
Asia 


Shall  ue  ].tusue  the  sound?    It  grows  more  faint 
And  distant. 

Paxthka 
List !  the  strain  floats  nearer  now. 

EcilOKS 

In  the  world  unknown 
Sleeps  a  voice  unspoken  ; 

I»y  t!iy  step  alone 

Can  its  rest  he  broken ; 
Child  of  Ocean  I 

Asia 
How  the  notes  sink  upon  the  ebbing  wind  I 


EciIOKS 

O,  follow,  follow ! 
Tluough  the  caverns  hollow, 
As  the  song  floats  thou  pursue, 
hy  the  wo.  land  noontide  dew, 
By  the  forests,  lakes,  and  fountains. 
Through  the  nuvny-folded  mountains  ; 
To  the  rents,  and  gidfs,  an.l  chasms,  ' 
AVhere  tlie  Eartli  reposed  from  spasms, 
On  the  day  when  He  and  Thou 
Parted,  to  couuningh'  now  ; 
Child  of  Ocean! 


190 


195 


200 


205 


Asia 


C.me,  swr,t  rai.lhea.  Ilnh  thy  hand  in  inlne. 
And  follow ,  viv  the  voices  failr  away. 


i  liOMKTIlEl'S    I'MlorND 


87 


ScExn  II.  —  .1  Foi-fsf,  hifrrri'nt'jled  irith  Rocks  and 
Carerns.  Asia  a?i(/  1'a  \tiika /^'/.vs  intuit.  Tivo  yoiuKj 
Fduns  are  sittiwj  <>n  a  Rock,  listeninrj. 


Skmuhorus  I   OK  Spirits 

The  path  throuj^li  which  that  h>vely  twain 

Have  past,  hy  ee(hir,  pine,  and  yew,  210 

And  eai'li  dark  tree  that  ever  grew, 

Is  curtained  out  from  heaven's  wide  hhie  ; 

Nor  sun,  nor  moon,  nor  wind,  nor  I'ain, 
Can  ])ierce  its  interwoven  howeis, 
Nor  aught,  save  where  some  eh)ud  of  dew,        '.M5 

Drifted  ah)ng  the  eartli-creeping  breeze, 

Between  the  trunks  of  the  lioar  trees. 

Hangs  each  a  i)earl  in  the  i)ale  flowers 
Of  the  green  laurel,  Idown  anew  ; 

And  bends,  and  then  fades  silently,  --0 

One  frail  and  fair  anemone  : 

Or  when  some  star  of  niany  a  one 

Tliat  climbs  and  wanders  throtigh  stcc])  night, 

Has  found  th(>  cleft  througli  which  alone 

Beams  fall  from  high  those  depths  npon,  2J5 

Ere  it  is  boine  away,  away, 

By  the  swift  heavens  that  cannot  stay, 

It  scatters  drops  of  golden  light, 

Like  lines  of  rain  that  ne'er  unite : 

And  the  gloom  divine  is  all  around  ;  230 

And  underneath  is  the  mossy  ground. 

Si;.MicmiKis  II 

There  the  voluptuous  nightingales, 

Are  awake  thiough  all  the  broad  noonday. 
AVhen  one  with  bliss  oi'  sinlness  falls. 

And  through  the  windless  ivy-boughs,  235 

SicK'    witll    «\\<'Mt   liiv.'.    rlvnrmc   dvi'ic  -"w-iv 


if 


M- 


IS  ' 


l!'  f 


( '     l 


88 


rnOMETIIKlS    I W ]UJ LMJ 


Oil  its  mate's  nuisic-pantinn;'  hosom  ; 
Aiiotlier.  from  the  swinniiij^-  blossom, 

Wjiteliiii<,r  to  catch  tlie  hiiii^niid  ch)se 

Of  the  last  strain,  tlieii  lifts  on  hi<'h  240 

The  wings  of  the  weak  nieloily, 
Till  s  uie  new  strain  of  feeling-  i)ear 

The  son^^  anil  all  the  woods  are  mute; 
A\  hen  there  is  heard  through  the  dim  air 
The  rush  of  wings,  and  rising  there  245 

Like  many  a  lake-surrounded  flute, 
Sounds  overflow  the  li.-     iier's  brain 
So  sweet,  that  joy  is  aln.ost  pain. 

SkMK  IIUKUS  I 

There  those  enchanted  eddies  play 

Of  echoes,  music-tongued,  which  draw,  250 

By  Demogorgon's  mighty  law, 

A\  ith  meltuig  rapture,  or  sweet  awe, 
All  spirits  on  that  secret  way  : 

As  inland  boats  are  driven  to  Ocean 
Down  streams  made  strong  with  mountain-thaw  ;  255 
And  first  there  conu's  a  gentle  sound 
To  those  in  talk  or  slumber  bouiul. 

And  wakes  the  destined  soft  emotion. 
Attracts,  ini])els  them  :   those  who  saw 

Say  from  the  breathing  earth  behind  260 

There  steams  a  plume-uplifting  wind 
Which  drives  thetn  on  their  ))ath,  while  they 

lielieve  their  own  swift  wings  and  feet 
Tlic  sweet  desires  within  obev  : 

And  so  they  float  u])on  their  way,  265 

Until,  still  sweet,  but  loud  and  strong. 
The  storm  of  sound  is  driven  along, 

Sucked  up  and  hurrying:  as  they  fleet 

liehind,  its  or-athering  billows  meet 


I'llOMETIIErs    VS HOUND  80 

And  to  the  fatal  mountain  bear  270 

Like  clouds  amid  the  yielding  air. 

First  Faun 

Cimst  thou  imagine  where  those  s])iiits  live 

Which  inaki!  such  delicate  niusie  in  the  woods? 

We  liaunt  within  the  least  frequented  caves 

And  closest  coverts,  and  we  know  these  wilds,  275 

Yet  never  meet  them,  though  we  hear  them  oft: 

Where  niav  thev  hide  themselves? 

Skcom>  Faux 

'T  is  hard  to  tell : 
I  have  heard  those  more  skilled  in  spirits  say, 
The  bubbles,  which  the  enchantment  of  the  sun 
Sucks  from  the  pale  faint  water-flowers  that  pave   280 
The  oozy  bottom  of  clear  lakes  aiul  juxds, 
Are  the  pavilions  where  such  dwell  and  float 
Under  the  green  and  golden  atmosphere 
Which  noontide  kindles  through  the  woven  leaves; 
And  when  these  burst,  and  the  thin  fiery  air,  2sr) 

The     which     they     breathed     within     those     lucent 

domes. 
Ascends  to  flow  like  meteors  through  the  night, 
Tliey  ride  on  tlicm,  and  rein  their  headlong  s])eed, 
And  bow  their  burning  crests,  and  glide  in  fire 
Under  the  waters  of  the  earth  again.  290 

First  Faux 

If  such  live  thus,  have  others  other  lives. 

Under  jiink  blossoms  or  within  the  bells 

Of  mcndow  flowers,  or  folded  violets  deep, 

Or  on  their  dying  odours,  wIk  u  they  die, 

Or  in  llie  sunlight  of  the  spuercd  dew  V  295 


i     5 


wm 


00 


TnoMtniiFAs  I '.V isorxh 


Si:((iM>   Facv 
Ay,  many  nioiv  wliicli  we  may  well  diviiu'. 
r>iit  >li()iil.l  wt!  stay  to  speak,  noontide  would  come, 
And  tliwart  Silemis  find  liis  i^outs  undrawn, 
And  .nind-v  to  sino-  those  wise  and  lovely  songs 
Of  fate,  and  ehanee,  and  (M)d,  and  Chaos  old,"        r;0(; 
And  Love,  and  the  chained  Titan's  woful  doom. 
And  how  lie  sliall  he  loosed.  an<I  make  the  earth 
One  brotherhood:  delightful  strains  whieh  cheer 
Our  solitary  twili-hts.  and  whicii  charm 
lo  sdence  the  unenvying  uightinyales.  ijor, 

ScKNK    111.  —  J     I'nniarl,-    uf    Uurk    niiioiHJ    Mountains. 
Asia  uihI   I'anthka. 

I'anthka 
Hither  the  .sound  has  hoi'ue  us — to  the  realm 
Of  I)emo-;orgon.  and  the  mighty  portal, 
Like  a  volcano's  meteor-hreathing  chasm, 
Whence  the  oracular  vapour  is  hurled  up 
Which  Icnely  men  drink  waiulerin-  in  their  youth,  .JlO 
And  call  truth,  virtue,  h)ve,  genius,  or  jov. 
That  maddeidng  wine  of  life,  whose  dregs  they  drain 
To  deej)  iiito.xication  :  and  uplift. 
Like  Ma'uads  who  cry  loud,  Kvoe  !    Kvoe  .' 
The  voice  which  is  contagion  to  the  world. 


31.1 


A.> 


SI  A 


Fit  throne  for  .such  a  Tower!   MagniHcentI 
I  low  glor^.us  art  thou,  Karth  !   Ami  if  thou  be 
The  sliadow  of  some  spirit  lovelier  still, 
'i'hough  evil  stain  its  work,  and  it  should  be 
Ldi(!  its  crciitiou.  weak  yet  l.e;iufiful. 
1  could  fall  (huvii  and  woi^hip  that  and  thee. 
Lveu  now  my  iioart  adoretli.      V\  ouderful ! 


:rjft 


\, 


PR OMETII K I 'S    US  nor .V  /) 


Look,  sister,  ere  the  v:i])oiir  dim  tliy  bruii 


'u'lieiitli  is  :i  wii 


1(>  pi; 


nil   () 


f  hill. 


)\vv  iiust. 


As  :i  hike.  |):iviiii;  in  tiie  iiioriiiii<;-  sky, 


91 


325 


Witl 


I  azure  waves 


which  l)ur>t  in  siiver  liii'ht, 


Some  Indian  vale.      IJehold  it.  rolling  <  a 

Tiider  the  cnnllim;  winds,  and  islandint;- 

The  peak  whereon  we  stand,  midway,  aronnd, 

I'iiu'iuctnred  hy  th.'  dark  anil  hloomin^  forests,        330 

Dim  twilii;ht  1;     n>.  and  stream-illuniine<l  caves, 

And  wind-cnehaiitcd  shapes  of  waiulennu'  nii^t : 

And  far  on  hl-h  the  keen  sky-eleavini;  luonntains 

From  icy  spires  of  snidike  radiance  tling 

The  dawn,  as  lifted  Ocean's  dazzlini;  spray,  335 

From  some  Atlantic  islet  scattered  uj), 

Spanj^les  the  wind  with  lanii>-like  water-drops. 

The  vale  is  girdled  with  their  walls,  a  howl 

Of  cataracts  from  their  thaw-cloven  ravines 

Satiates  the  listening-  wind,  continuons,  vast,  340 

Awfnl  as  silence.     Hark!   the  milling  snow! 

The  snn-awakened  avalanche!   whose  mass, 

Thrice  sifted  by  the  storm,  had  gathered  there 

Flake  after  flake,  in  heaven-defying  minds  344 

As  thon'dit  bv  thought  is  i  Ued,  till  soiae  great  truth 

Is  loosened,  and  the  nation,  eclio  round, 

Siiaken  to  their  roots,  as  do  the  mountains  now. 

Pa  N'T  III:  A 

Look  how  the  gusty  sea  of  mist  is  breaking 

In  crimson  foam,  even  at  our  feet !  it  rises 

As  Ocean  at  the  enchantment  of  tlie  moon  330 

Kound  foodless  men  wrecked  on  some  oozy  isle. 

Asia 

The  fragments  of  the  cloud  are  scattered  up; 
The  wind  tlfit  )'ft>  th^m  di-.-nUviiH  <  niv  hair: 


H 


l^  h 


»  ,; 


•  ii 


92 


rnoyiETii k i -s  rsno us u 


Its  Itillows  now  sweep  o'er  luino  eves:  my  hniin 
(irows  (li/./.\  ;    I  see  tliin  shapes  within  the  mist. 


a.-ir* 


Pantiika 
A  coiiiitenaiice  witli  Ix'ckdiiiii^-  smiles:  there  hurns 
All  azure  fire  within  its  golih'n  hx-ks  I 
Another  and  another  :  hark  I  they  speak  I 


S()\(;  OK  Si'iKiTs 

To  the  deep,  to  the  deep, 

Down,  down  I 
TiM-on;4li  tlie  shade  of  sleep, 
Thronjuh  the  eloudy  strife 
Of  Death  and  of  Life  ; 
Through  the  veil  and  the  bar 
Of  thini^s  whieli  seem  and  are, 
Even  to  the  steps  of  the  remotest  throne, 
Down,  down  I 


y(JU 


305 


While  the  sound  wliirls  around, 

Down,  down  I 
As  the  fawn  draws  the  hound, 
As  the  liL;htiiin<;  the  vapour. 
As  a  weak  moth  the  taper: 
Death,  despair;   love,  sorrow: 
Time,  lioth:  to-day.  to-morrow: 
As  steel  obeys  the  spirit  of  the  stone; 
Down,  down  I 

Thron^rh  thi'  ^ray,  void  abysm, 

1  )own,  down  ! 
Where  the  air  is  no  ])rism. 
And  the  moon  and  stars  are  not. 
And  tlie  eavern-(M'a<'s  wear  not 


370 


375 


r?Rn 


rnoMETiiEUs  usnorsD  98 

Tlio  radhincc  of  Ilnivcn 
Nor  the  u'loom  to  Ivirtli  f;ivcn, 
"Where  tliere  is  one  y  rvjiding,  one  alono, — 

Down,  down  I  •^^'' 


In  Ihr  (h'jith  of  the  Jcfj), 

1  )own,  down  I 
T>iko  veiU-d  ]i,<;litnln^'  asleep. 
Like  tlie  spark  nursed  in  endters, 
The  hist  h>ok  Love  r<Mnend)ers, 
Like  a  diamond,  which  slnnes 
On  the  dark  wealtli  of  mines, 
A  spell  is  troasnred  hnt  for  thee  alone. 
Down,  down  I 


390 


3'J5 


400 


We  have  honnd  thee,  we  gnide  thee; 

Down,  down  ! 
"With  the  bright  form  beside  thee  ; 
Resist  not  tlie  weakness  ! 
Sneh  stren-th  is  in  meekness 
That  the  Eternal,  the  Immortal, 
Must  unloose  throuL;li  life's  jiortal 
The  snake-like  Doom  c.  iled  underneath  his  throne 
liy  that  alone. 

ScEXK    JY.— The    Carp   of    DKMOdoucox.     Asia    anr 

P.vntiii:a. 

Panthka 

What  veiled  form  sits  on  thnt  ebon  throne? 

Asia 


The  veil  has  fallen. 


Paxthka 

I  see  a  mighty  darkness         405 


,  1-.  ' 


94  riiOMETUKis  rsnorxn 

I'iHiiil;  tlir  scat  (if  |i()ucr.  and  vn\  of  <;:\oo\\ 
I>ait  i.minl,  as  li-lit  from  tlic;  iiifridiaii  smi, 
1  ii-a/.d  ii|>oii  and  sliaprlcvs:   iumiIhm-  limb, 

>.()r   lollM.   Mor  out  line  ;    yet   ut'   feci   )t   IS 

A  liviiii;-  Spirit. 

I)i:.M()<ioi;iioN 
Aslc  wliat  tlioii  \v(uil(lst  know. 


Asia 


"Wliat  canst  thou  toll? 


I)i:Mu(;oK(;«)N 

All  thing-  i.,o„  (liii-'st  demand. 


Asr.v 
"VVlio  made  tlie  living:  world? 


I)i;.MU(iUii(:o.v 

Gou. 

Asia 


Who  made  all 
That  it  contains  ?  thonght,  passi<jn,  reason,  will, 


-Imagination  ? 


I)i:MO',oij(iov 
God  :   Almighty  (iod. 

Asia 


AVI 


\\  lio  made  lliat  sense  which,  when  the  winds  of  spring 
In  rarest  visitation,  or  the  voice  410 

Of  one  beloved  heard  in  youth  alone, 
i'iiJs  the  taint  eyes  with  falling  tears  which  dim 


rnOMETUKVS    rSUOVND 

TIh'  rnili:int  looks  of  iinlu'wailiii:;  tlosvcrs, 
Aii'l  Icavi  >  this  lu-opU'd  earth  a  solitude 
\\\wi\  it  returns  no  more':' 

l)KMo(iOHiiON 

Merciful  (lod. 

Asia 
And  who  made  terror,  madness,  crimo,  remorse, 
Whieh  from  the  links  of  the  -iieat  chain  of  things. 
To  fvery  th(»n<,dit  within  the  mind  of  man 
Sway  and  dra-  heavily,  and  each  one  reels 
rnder  the  load  towards  the  l)it  of  death  ; 
Abandoned  hope,  and  love  that  turns  to  hato  ; 
And  self-contempt,  hitterer  to  driidc  than  blood; 
I'ain,  whos    unheeded  and  familiar  speech 
Is  howlinii-,  and  keen  shrieks,  day  :ifter  day; 
And  Hell,  or  the  sharp  fear  of  Hell? 


420 


425 


DKMOr.OKtiON 


Asia 


He  reigns. 


I'ttor  liis  name:  a  world  pining  in  i)ain 

Ask    but  his  name  :  curses  shall  drag  him  down. 


•130 


1  ' 
J 


ml 


I  '1 
I 


V  !. 


He  reigns. 


l)KMo<;()U(iox 


A>1A 


Wl 


10  reigns 


I  feel,  I  know  it :  who  ? 

DKMOC.OIMiON' 

Asia 
?  There  was  the  Heaven  and  Earth  al  fust, 


He  reigns.     434 


7 


9G 


riioMKTifhrs  rwiunwi) 


41(1 


us 


450 


And  I.!-Iit:.iul  Lov  ;   thru  Saturn,  from  wIh,s(.  throne 

Tim.-  I.'"     -1  ..i.vious  .sli:i,|„w  :   sii.-li  tin-  stat.. 

<>•"  'I"  -  primal  spirits  iM-nrafli  lijs  sway, 

•^\''"  •  ,i'»y  of  tl«>\v,.rs  and  livin-  l.-avus  ' 

''"'""•  \\'>"1  "!•  smi  lias  witli..r...|  tlicu. 

A  nil  -riMivital  uoriiis:    i.nt   li.-  rrl'ii,,.,! 

'I''"'  I'irlliri^lit  <>{  Il.rir  l.,!!,-    kn.ns  1..,]^;,..  ,„,«■.. r, 

'I'll.-  >lviil  ui.ici,  ulcl.ls  t|i.,>  .Inn,. III.,  ilh    tli..u-ht 

U'lii.'li  pi.MVfs  this  <|iiM  uiiivers.'  lik,;  li^lit, 

S-'lf-cinpin',  and  tlu'  iiiaj<'sty  of  l.>v.' ; 

F..r  tl.ir.t  of  whi-.-h  th.T  faint.-.l.    Tiu',.  Proinotl.c 

(Javo  \vis(l.)ni,  wliich  is  str.'ii-tli,  to  .lupitrr, 

Au.l  uitli  this  law  alone,  -  Let  man  hv  frcj," 

n.'tluid  him  with  th.,'  .loniinion  of  wide  Heaven. 

To  liimw  nor  faith,  nor  love.  ,u,r  law,  to  h..  - 

Onmipotrnt  iuit  fri.MulIess,  is  to  rcii;ii  ;  ' 

And  .I..v('  n.,w  r.i-ned  ;   for  on  tin;  ra.-e  of  man 

First  famine,  aii.l  then  toil,  and  then  disease. 

Strife,  wounds,  and  ehastly  death  unseen  l)ef()re, 

Fell  :  and  the  nnseasonahle  seasons  dr.)ve, 

With  alternatin,.;  shafts  of  fn.st  and  fire,  ' 

Their  shelterless,  pale  tribes  to  mountain  oaves: 

And  in  their  deseit  hearts  fiere(!  wants  lie  sent,' 

And  mad  dis(iui.tu<les,  and  shadows  idle 

Of  nnreal  <;ood,  whieh  levied  nmtual  war. 

So  ruinini,r  the  lair  wherein  they  ra,<;ed. 

Prometheus  saw,  and  waked  tlie  le-^'oned  liopos 

Which  sl.vp  witliin  folded  Flysian  riowers. 

Nepenthe.  .Muly,  Amaranth,  fa.leless  Uooms, 

That  they  mi-ht  hi<le  with  thin  and  rainbow  winog 

The  shape  of  Death:  and  Love  he  sent  to  bind^ 

The  disunited  tendrils  of  that  vine 

Whieh  bears  the  wine  of  life,  th.,'  Immn.!  I.earf  : 

And  he  tamed  tire,  whieh,  like  some  beast  of  i)rey, 


455 


ir.o 


105 


1)7 


170 


riioMKrilKVS    1 -Mi')  I'M) 

M,.^t  tfrrihlt',  l>i»t  lovely,  i)layea  iK-iicath 
Tlu;  frown  of  man  ;  an.l  toittiit'd  to  Ins  will 
Iron  iin.l  -..1.1.  tli.-  sl;iv.-s  an.l  si-ns  of  pow.T, 
Anil  L^fMis  an.l  poi-^'-iis,  ami  all  snl.tl.st  foinis 
111, Men  lienratli  tli.'  nionntains  and  tin'  waves. 
Ilr  Liavi-  man  sp.-. cii,  ami  spctcli  cix'ate.l  tlioui;lit,     175 
Wlii.'h  is  tlu!  ni.MSKr.'  of  tin-  nnivcrse  ; 
Ami  Scicn.'.'  stnu'k  tli.'  throm-s  of  earth  an.l  licavcn, 
Which  shook.  l«nt  fell  not  ;    an.l  the  haini<.ni.)ns  mind 
rour.'d  its.lf  f.nth  in  all-inoi.h.'ti.'  soul;; 
An.l  nmsie  lift.-.l  up  the  list.Miin-  spirit  ^SO 

I'ntil  it  walked    exemi)t  fr.iin  mortal  eare, 
(io.llik.',  o'er  the  elear  l.illows  of  sweet  so',   d  ; 
An.l  human  han.ls  first  mimieked  and  then  mocked, 
With  moul.le.l  lind>s  more  lovely  than  its  own. 
The  human  form,  till  marhle  <,new  divin.',  1S5 

And  m..thers,  <;azing,  drank  the  l.)ve  m.:.  see 
KeHeeted  in  their  ra.-e,  hehol.l,  and  p.-rish. 
He  told  the  hidden  power  of  herbs  and  sprinjrs, 
\nd  Disease  drank  and  slept.    Death  grew  like  sleep. 
He  tauj^ht  the  implicated  orbits  woven  HM) 

Of  the  wi.le-wanderint?  stars  ;  and  how  the  sun 
(:hani;es  his  lair,  and  by  what  secret  spell 
The  pale  moon  is  tiansformed,  when  her  broad  eye 
(iazes  not  on  the  interlunar  sea. 

He  tan-ht  t..  rule,  as  lif.'  .lin'Cts  the  limbs,  4nr, 

.  The  tempest-win;j;e.l  chariots  of  the  Oci-an. 
And  the  Celt  knew  the  Indian.    Cities  then 
Were    built,    and    through    their    sn.w-like    columns 

fl.)vved 
The  warm  winds,  and  the  azure  ether  shone, 
An.l  the  blue  sea  and  shadowy  hills  were  seen 
c:..<.u    flw.  ..llovJntions  of  his  state, 
Prometheus  gave  to  man,  for  which  he  Uaugs 


500 


i: 


98 


riKtMETIIF.l  s   r.xnor.M) 


Witlicrincj  in  dcstiiicd  p:iin  :   l)nt,  wlio  rains  down 
Kvil,  tlic  imnit'dicablo  ])lai;no,   ■  "licii,  wliilc 
M:iii  looks  on  liis  ci'cation  !■ 
And  sees  tliat  it  is  ijlorioiis. 


iod 

i  hini  on. 


'I'lic  wi-cck  of  ids  own  will,  th      .  orn  of  earth, 

Tin;  outcast,  tlie  abandoni'd.  tli(>  aloni!  ? 

\ot  Jove:   while  yot  his  frown  shook  heaven,  ay,  when 

His  adversary  fi-oni  a(himantine  chains  510 

Cnrsed  him,  he  trend)hd  like  :i  slave.    Dechire 

Who  is  his  master?    Is  he  too  a  slave? 

DKMO(;oi:(io.v 

All  spirits  are  enslaved  whieh  serve  things  evil: 
Thon  knowest  if  Jnpiter  he  sneh  or  no. 

Asia 
Whom  calledst  thon  God  r 

I  sjmke  but  as  ye  speak, 
ior  Jove  is  the  supreme  of  living  things.  51G 

Asia 
Who  is  muster  of  the  slave  ? 

DEMUGOK(iOX 

If  the  abysm 
Conld  vondt  forth  his  secrets.    .   .   .    iint  u  voice 
Is  wanting,  the  deep  truth  is  imageless  : 
For  what  would  it  avail  to  bid  thee  gaze  520 

On  the  revidvin-r  world'.'  what  to  bid  speak 
Fate,  Time,  Occasion,  C'iiance,  and  ( 'iiang"  ?    To  these 
All  things  are  subject  but  eternal  Lovt. 


rnoMETiiErs  uxnnrND  99 

Asia 

S  »  tmu'li  I  iisked  before,  and  my  lu-art  trave 

'IMir  ifsponsc  thou  hast  ijivcn  :  and  of  sucli  truths     525 

I'^ach  to  itself  lunst  be  the  oiach". 

( )nr  MU)re  demand  ;  and  do  thou  answei-  me 

As  niv  own  soul  would  answer,  did  it  know 

That  which  I  ask.    rrometh"us  shall  arise 

lleneeforth  the  sun  of  this  rejoieinu'  world:  5rs0 

"When  shall  the  destined  hour  arrive? 


DEMO(iOKCiON 


Asia 


Behold! 


The  roeks  are  cloven,  and  through  the  i^urple  night 
I  s(  '  cars  diawn  l>y  rainl)ow-win<j;ed  steeds 
Which  tranii»le  the  dim  winds:   in  each  there  stands 
A  wild-eyed  cliarioteer  urginu  their  iliyht.  535 

Some  look  behind,  as  fiends  pursue  them  there, 
And  yet  1  see  no  shape,  but  the  keen  stars: 
Others,  with  burning;  eyes,  lean  forth,  and  drink 
With  eaoer  lins  the  wind  of  their  own  speed, 
As  if  the  thinj,'  they  loved  Hed  on  before, 
And  now.  even  now,  they  (dasped  it.    Their  bright  locks 
Stream  like  a  comet's  Hashing  hair:  they  all 
Sweep  onward. 

Dkmooorgox 
These  are  the  immortal  Hours, 
Of  whom  thou  didst  demand.    One  waits  for  thee. 


540 


Asia 


545 


A  spirit  with  a  drcadfid  countenance 

C'hccks  its  dark  (diariot  by  the  craggy  gulf. 

Unlike  thy  brethren,  ghastly  charioteer, 

Who  art  tiiou ?  Wliither  wouidst  thou  bear  me?  Speak! 


^,  i 


100 


riiOMETIIFA'H    UN  HOUND 


I   i 


Sl'lK'T 

I  ;iiii  the  slirulow  of  a  destiiiy 

Moiv  (liv;i(l  tlian  is  my  Ms])cct  :  ere  yoji  ))lant't         r,r^) 

lias  set,  tliu  (lai-kiicss  uliich  ascends  witli  me 

81.all  wrap  in  lasting-  niui.t  1  haven's  kin-ioss  throne. 


Wliat  meanest  thou? 


Asi 


ilA 


P.VXTUKA 

f  hat  terrible  shadow  floats 
Uj)  from  its  tlironc,  as  may  the  lurid  sn\o!-.- 
Of  eartJKjuake-ruined  cities  o'er  the  sea.  555 

Lo!   it  ascends  the  car  ;   tlie  coursers  Hy 
Terrified  :  watch  its  ])ath  among  the  stars 
Blackening  the  night  I 

Asia 
Thus  I  am  answered  •  strange  ! 

rVNTIIKA 

See,  near  the  verj^e,  another  chariot  stays ; 

An  ivory  shell  iidaid  with  crimson  fire,  5gO 

Whi<'h  comes  and  goes  within  its  sculptured  rim 

()f  delicate  strange  tracery:  the  young  spirit 

That  guides  it  lias  the  dove-like  eyes  of  hope  ; 

How  its  sofi  smiles  attra.'t  the  soul!  as  light 

Lures  winged  insects  through  the  lampless  air.        5G5 

Si 'IK  IT 
My  coursers  ar(>  fed  with  Mie  liuhtuing. 

They  drink  of  the  wliii'iwiiKi's  stream. 
And  when  the  re(^  morning  is  luight'nin"-, 

They  bathe  in  th.-  fresh  sunbeam  ; 

They  have  strength  for  tlieir  swiftness  I  ^'..era,    ."JTO 
Then  ascend  with  me,  daughter  of  ( )cean. 


\  \ 


/•;.' OMETIIEUS    UN  11 0  UNI) 


101 


I  desire:  and  their  spofd  makes  iii<;lit  kindle  ; 
I  fear:  they  outstrip  the  typhoon; 

Ere  the  eloiid  ])iled  on  Atlas  can  dwindle 

\\'i'  encircle  the  earth  and  tlie  moon  :  575 

We  sh:dl  rest  from  lonj;-  lahonrs  at  noon  : 

Then  ascend  with  me,  danghter  of  Ocean. 

ScKNK  V. 77".'  Car  jvnism  irifhht  a  Cloud  o?)  ilic  Top  nf 

(I  s)io>ri/  Mountain.   Asia.  rAMUKA,  ami  the  Si'IKIT  of 

TlIK  lIoLK. 

SriKiT 

On  the  hrink  of  the  ni;jht  and  the  morning 
My  coursers  are  wont  to  resjjire  ; 


But  the  Earth  has  just  whispered  a  warning 
Tliat  their  fli^•ht  nuist  he  swifter  tlian  lire : 
They  shall  drink  the  hot  speed  of  desire! 

Asia 
Thou  hreathest  on  their  nostrils,  hut  my  breath 
Would  give  them  swifter  speed. 


Sri  KIT 


580 


1  * 


1:1 


Alas  !  it  could  not. 


!i        I 


:l;.:l 


Pantiiea 

O  Spirit!  pause,  and  tell  whence  is  the  li^ht 
Which  tills  the  cloud?    The  sun  is  yet  unrisen. 

Sl'IUIT 

The  sun  will  rise  not  until  noon.    A])ollo 
Is  held  in  heaven  by  wonder;  and  the  light 
Which  fdls  this  vapour,  as  the  aerial  hue 
Of  fcnmtain-gnzing  roses  fills  the  water, 
Flows  from  thy  mighty  sister. 


585 


5'.)0 


t  i   ' 


102 


I'llOMETIIKT-s  vynovsh 

I*ANT1I1.A 


Asia 


Ye<,  I  feci  — 


r)9-. 


GOU 


\Vli;u  is  it  with  ilire,  sisUT?    Tlioii  arf  pale. 

I'antiika 
How  tl.ou  art  clian-c]  \     I  ,lai     n,.t  look  „n  thee; 
I  f»vl  l)iit  sre  tlieu  not.     I  scarce  en-luro 
Til.,  ra.lia.u-e  ..f  thy  hoaiity.      -^ouio  -oo.l  cliaix.,. 
Is  workini.-  in  tlie  I'lcnicnts,  wliid,  suit 
Tliy  prosonce  thus  unvMhnl.    The  Nereids  tell 
That  (Ml  the  (lay  whm  the  rlear  hvaline 
Was  cloven  at  thy  uprise,  an,'  tlioa  di.lst  .stand 
U  ithm  a  veined  shell.  \vh     h  iloated  on 
Over  the  calm  floor  of  f';,;  crvstal  sea, 
Anion-  the  .K-ean  isle>.  and  l.y  im;  sVores 
A\  hich  hear  thy  name  ;  lov,%  L,,e  the  atmosjihere 
Of  the  sun's  fire  iiUin-  the  liviii-  world, 
liurst  from  thee,  and  illumined  ('arth  and  heaven    005 
And  the  deep  ocean  and  the  sunless  cav,.s. 
And  all  that  duells  within  them  ;  till  grief  cast 
Jvdipse  upon  the  soul  from  which  it  c;nne. 
Such  art  thou  now  ;  nor  is  it  I  alone. 
Thy  sister,  thy  companion,  thine  own  chosen  one,    010 
l..it  the  wh.de  world  which  seeks  thv  svmpathy. 
ll.'a.vst  thou  n..t  s,mn.ls  i'  the  air  wliicli    peak  the  loxe 
<)i  all  articulat..  Immuos'/     Fcle^t  thou  not 
'ilie  inanimate  wiiuls  en;imoiiied  ,)f  thee  /     List! 

\_Music. 
Asi  \ 

T  hy  words  are  sweeter  than  an-ht  else  l.ut  his  G15 

^Miose  e.'ho..s  th.-y  are:  yet  ail  love  is  sweet, 
<Hv.-n  or  return.'d.  Common  as  li^lit  is  love,' 
And  its  familiar  voice  wearies  not  ever. 


103 


620 


i-iioMKTiiKis  rsitorM) 

Like  tlie  wi.le  heaven,  the  all-sustaining  air, 
'1  makfs  the  rel)tile  <Miual  to  the  (i.xl  : 
111.  V  who  inspire  it  most  are  fortunate, 
A  -  i  am  now  :  hut  those  who  ferl  it  most 
\r.    hapjtier  still,  after  loni;-  sufferings, 
As  1  shall  soon  l)e(!ome. 


Pa NTH K A 

List !     Spirits  speak. 

Voicr.  in  the  air,  sin'/ing. 
Life  of  Life!   thy  lips  enkindle  ^25 

With  their  love  the  breath  between  them  ; 
And  thy  smiles  before  they  dwindle 

Make  the  eold  air  fire ;  then  sereen  them 
In  those  looks,  where  whoso  gazes 
Faints,  entangled  in  their  mazes.  630 


■;i 


fn   ,-: 


\ 


i 


'J.' 


Child  of  Light :  thy  limbs  are  burning 

Through  the  vest  whieh  seems  to  hide  them  ; 

As  the  radiant  lines  of  morning 

Through  the  elouds  ere  they  divide  them  ; 

And  this  atmosphere  divinest  035 

Shrouds  thee  wheresoe"er  thou  shinest. 


Fair  are  others:  mnw  beholds  thee. 
Hut  thv  voice  sounds  low  ami  tender 

Like  the  fairest:  for  it  folds  thee 

From  the  sigh^  that  liquid  splendour, 

And  all  fi'el,  yet  see  thee  never, 

As  1  feel  now,  lost  for  ever! 


Lamp  of  Earth !   where'er  thou  movcst 
Its  dim  shapes  an  elad  with  brightness, 


010 


I, 


104  PliOMKTIIEUS    r.\ll(,['X» 

And  the  souls  of  whom  thou  lovcst 
^^  W:ilU  upon  the  win. Is  witli  lightness, 
Till  thry  fail,  as  I  aMi  failin--, 
Dizzy,  lost,  yet  uulicwailini;- 1 

Asia 
My  soul  is  an  ent-hantecl  hoat, 
^  ^\  iiich,  lilvo  a  slcepini;  swan,  doth  float 
Upon  th..  silver  waves  of  thy  sweet  singing; 
And  thine  doth  liUe  an  angel  sit 
]?eside  the  lielni  eonduetinii-  ir, 
AVhilst  all  the  win.Is  with  melody  a,v  ringing. 
It  seems  to  float  ever,  for  ever, 
1  pon  that  many-winding  river 
Jk-tween  mountains,  woods,  abysses, 
A  paradise  of  wildernesses  ! 
Till,  like  one  in  slumhi'r  bound, 
]V)rne  to  the  ocean,  I  Hoat  down,  around, 
Into  a  sea  pr.^found,  of  ever-spreading  sound. 

.     Meanwhile  thy  sj)irit  lifts  its  pinions 

In  music's  most  serene  dnuiinions  ; 
Catehing  the  winds  that  fan  that  hai'.py  heaven. 

And  we  sail  on,  away,  afar, 

^^  ithout  a  eourse,  without  a  star. 
But  by  the  instinct  of  swe.4  mnsie  driven  ; 

Till  through  Klysian  garden-islets 

Hy  thee,  most  l)eautiful  <.f  pilots. 

Where  never  mortal  pinnace  glided. 

The  l)oat  of  my  desire  is  guided  : 
Heabns  where  the  air  we  breathe  is  love, 
Whicli  in  the  winds  and  on  the  waves  doth  move 
Harmonizing  this  earth  with  what  we  feel  above  ' 


G15 


Gr>{) 


G'i5 


660 


i 


GG5 


070 


' 


I'UOMKTiiKfs  rxiiorxD 


Wo  1 


iav(>  piisst 


.1  A- 


<>  s  lev  caves, 


And  Manhood's  dark  and  tossinjj;  waves, 
And  Vmiiirs  siiioulli  oci-an,  sniilin"  to  hrtray 


t'Vond  tilt'  "la-isv  "nils  \si 


Of  sliado\v-|ifi)|ilcd   Inlancv, 


II 


ce 


105 


075 


Tliiini.^li  I)t;atli  and  I>ii'tli,  to  a  divinei-  day  :  GSO 

A  ])aradis('  of  vaidttul  howers 

Lit,  liy  do\vn\vard-i;a/,ini;  tiowei's, 

And  watfiv  |»atlis  that  wind  between 

Wildernesses  ealni  and  j^reen, 
I'copled  l)y  shapes  too  bright  to  s(>e,  085 

And  rest,  haviiii^  helield  :   soniewliat  like  thee: 
Which  walk  upon  the  sea,  and  ehaunt  melodiously  ! 


ACT    III 

ScEXK    I.  —  Henvni.     JrrrrKU  o7i  hh    Throne;   Thetis 
and  the  otJicr  JJeities  assemldid. 


.Iri'HKK 

Ye  conp[reg;ated  powers  of  heaven,  who  sliare 

The  <rlorv  and  tiie  strenuth  of  him  ve  serve, 

Jvejoiee!   lietieefortli  I  am  omnipotent. 

All  else  had  l)een  snhdned  to  me;  alone 

The  sonl  of  man.  like  niiextinu:nished  fire. 

Yet    burns   towards   heaven  with  fierce   reproach, 

and  doubt. 
And  lamentatioM,  and  reluctant  juayer, 
llurlin<i'  up  insurrection,  whi(di  niinht  make 
Our  anti(pu!  enij)ire  insecure,  thon^jfh  built 
On  eldest  faith,  and  hell's  coeval,  fear; 
And  thouii'h  mv  curses  through  the  ])«!ndidons  air, 
liike  snow  on  herbless  peaks,  fall  flake  by  flake. 
And  elin;;^  to  it;  thonyh  undei'  my  wrath's  nij^ht 


10 


m\  i 


rnnMKTUFJ's  r.v/.'or.v/* 


••nij;-  iif  life,  stcj)  Mftcr  step 


lOf) 

It  I'liiiil)  ill 

A\'liir|i  \u)i,n,|  it.  as  wv  wnmul.  ims:iii.lalk"(l  f.-ct,       IT. 

It    \i'I    irliulilis   .Sll|i|flllc   ((■(■!■   Illi-,cl\. 

A>|,iiiiiLr.  uiiiepri'ssfd,  yt-t  su-xi  to  fall  : 

Kviii  II, ,u  liav..  I  lic-oticii  a  stiaii-v  wonder, 

Tint  fatal  cliiM,  th,.  i.-nor  of  tlic  cartli, 

^\"lio  \v;iits  l.ut  till  thf  <l'.'sfiii(..|  lioiir  arrive,  20 

Jicariiij,^  li'oiii  I)i'iiioL;i)i'Lroirs  vacant  tliroue 

'i'he  dreadful  nii^lit  ,)f  ever-living  lind.s 

Wliich  (dotlied  tlKit  awful  spirit  nnheheld, 

'lo  ndi'seend,  and  trample  out  the  spark. 

P"nr  fortli  heav.Mi's  wijie,  Ida'aii  (Janvmede,  25 

And  let  it  till  the  diedal  eiips   like  firj, 

And  from  the  flower-inwoven  soil  divine 

"i  e  all-trinniphant  harmonies  arise, 

As  dew  from  earth  under  the  twilight  stars: 

])rink:   he  the  lu'ctar  eii-elin,LC  throunh  y„ur  veins     ;iO 

The  soul  of  joy,  ye  ever-living^  Gods, 

Till  exultation  hurst  in  one  wide  voice 

Like  lansie  from  Klysian  winds. 

And  thoii 
Ascend  heside  nu',  veiled  in  the  li-ht 
Of  the  desire  which  makes  thee  one  with  me,  .35 

Thetis,  hrio-ht  inianc  of  deinitv  I 
AVheu  thou  didst  cry,  ••  Iiisutferahle  mi-ht ! 
(i'.d:  spare  me!   1  Mistain  not  th.'  .piick  iiames, 
'ihe  jicnetratin^  presence:   all  my  lu-in-. 
Like  him  whom  the  Nunndi;in  seps  did  thaw  -lo 

Into  a  (hnv  with  poison,  is  dissolved. 
Sinking-  throui;h  its  foundations:  "  even  then 
Two  nu-hty  spirits,  min-lin-.  made  a  third 
Mi.-htier  than  either   whicdi,  uni>odied  now, 
Between  us  Hoats,  felt,  although  nnheheld,  45 


ri:()yfi:Tni:t  .^  imkum) 

Waitiii'^  tlu'  iiicariijitioii.  uli'u-li  ;is<'t'ii(ls, 


107 


If  vc 


the  tlniiKlcr  of  tlir  liirv  wlicfls 


(iliiiill'^    tllf    Winil-i.'    )      llnlii     1  )iliiii^'iil  ^"li   >    ililnlil'. 

N'litiiiv!    victorv!    I'ffr>t  tli<iu  iu)t.()  world, 

'I'lic  i';irtii(iu:iliL'  o|'  liis  cliaiiot  tliiiiHiiTiiiu-  up  •">() 

( )1\  iiipus? 

[^T/f  Cur  iij' f/tr  Will  \:   nrriri's.      I)i;Mo<ioK- 

(in\    i/isri'iii/s,    iiinl    /iini'is    (mrdrils     tliP 

Thriiif  I'J'  .\  WW  VM. 

Awful  sliapc,  what  art  tliou?    Si>('ak  I 
I)i:Mo<i()i;i;oN" 

Ktornity.      Deinaiul  no  direr  name! 

Descend,  and  follow  me  down  tlu;  abyss! 

1  am  thy  ehild,  a.s  thou  wert  Saturn's  child  ; 

Mi,i;htior  than  ihee  :  and  we  mu>r  dwell  toj^ether       T)") 

lleiuMjforth  in  darkness.      Lift  thy  liuhtnings  not! 

The  tvranny  of  heaven  none  may  letain, 

Or  reassnine,  or  hold,  succeeding  thee: 

"^'et,  if  thou  wilt,  as  'tis  the  destiny 

Of  trochlen  worms  to  writhe  till  they  are  dead, 

Put  forth  thy  might! 

.Il  TirKK 

Detested  prodigy ! 
F.ven  thus  beneath  the  det'p  Titanian  prisons 
I  trample  thee!  TIkhi  lingerest? 

Mercy !  mercy  ! 
No  pity,  no  release,  no  respite  !     Oh, 
That  thou  wouldst  make  mine  enemy  my  jndge, 
Kven  where  he  hangs,  seared  by  my  long  revenge, 
On  Caucasus!   he  would  not  doom  me  thus. 
(lentU",  and  just,  and  dreadless,  is  he  not 
The  monarch  of  the  world  ?    What  then  art  thou? 
No  refuge!   no  appeal ! 


GO 


f.,") 


m 


TV 


108 


\Vc  i 


i-h'OMirniKis  r.v/.or.v 


/> 


Milk  with  IMC  then 


uo  will  siiilc  on  the  uiM 


70 


•  '  \v;ivt' 


"<  "I  nun. 


.vni  ,1,  ;i  \ nil  |,,f  :ii|,| 


I) 


;i  •^n; 


'•"1>.  IwiMrd  in  incxtiical.l,.  tj^ht 


Cf  mil  -jH  lit 


lO 


80 


Int..  :i  shc.ivh.^s  sra.      Lrt  h.ll  nnh.rlc 

In  nioninlfd  oc-ans  n{  t.-mpist  nous  liiv. 

And  uIh-Iiii  on  tlicin  into  the  hottonih-ss  void 

This  desolated  woil.j,  and  tliee.  and  ine. 

Tin-  eon.,neror  and  th..  eon.ineiv.I,  an.l  tlie  wreck 

<>t  that  for  wliieh  tliey  conihated  ] 

TI       1  ,  '  -^''   •^'' 

I  lit!  fienn'nts  oi.ey  rnc  not.      I  sink 

I>i//.ily  down,  ever,  for  ever,  down. 

And,  like  a  elond,  mine  enemy  alxtvo 

Darkens  my  fall  witli  victory!     Ai !   Ai ! 

S,KNK  U.-n.Moufh  of  a  ,jrrat  Ulrc.r  In  the  Is/and 
Afl,n,ns.  O.  KAN-  ;.s  ,/;sr.rn-r,/  rrrluunrj  near  the 
bhoir  ;   Al'oLLu  stands  hrs!,lc  him. 

C)(i;av 
Ile  fell,  thou  sayest,  l.en,.-ath  his  conqueror's  frown? 

Ai-or.i.o 
Ay,  when  the  strife  was  en.I.Ml  which  made  dim        s:. 
.       I  I'c  orh  I  rnle,  and  shook  the  solid  stars. 
The  terrors  of  his  eye  illumined  heawn    ' 
AMth  san,,n.ine  li^ht.  thron.^h  the  thick  ra-ed  skirts 
yn  tile  victorious  darkness,  as  he  fell  : 
Like  the.  last  -la  re  of  day's  red  a -on  v.  rjc 

^^  hieh.  from  a  rent  anum-  the  fiery  clouds, 
liunis  far  alon-  the  tempest-wrinkled  deep. 

0<  KAV 

He  sunk  to  the  ahyss'^  to  the  dark  void? 


ruoMKTiiF.i's  r\i:(>i  m> 
Ait'i.i.ii 
An  f:iL;l('  so  can^lit  in  '^ciuf  lmi'8tiii<^  cloiul 


lou 


l.:ini. 


(  )ii  (  .(iii';i>ii>.  lii^  tliiiii    .■!•  lt;ittlril  \viiii;s  '.»,> 

I'.ntim^lcil  111  till'  wliii  Iw  iiiil.  ;iiiil  lii>  cyt'S 
W  liicli  ^:i/.»'(l  (HI  till'  un(l.i//liiiL;  smi.  ikiw  l)liii(l('<l 
I'lV  tin-  uliitc  liulituiuL:,  wliili'  the  |Miinlfi(»iis  luiil 
lirat^  on  liis  st  ni;:i:liin;  form,  wiiicli  sinks  at  h'iii;tli 
I'loiie,  iiiul  the  al'iial  Icl'  I'liiiirs  over  it.  H)() 


lo,- 


110 


()(  i:  \\ 

Il.'iicffortli  tlu>  fiflds  of  I  |cavt'ii-r<'fl('<'tin<,'  soa 
W  liirli  arc  iiiv  realm,  will  lieave,  un■^taine(l  with  hlood, 
Keiieath  the  ujiiiftinix  winds.  like  plains  of  corn 
Swaved  l)V  the  snmmei-  air:   my  streams  will  How 
Ivountl  iuanv-|)en])li(l  continents,  and  roiinil 
l''()rtiin:ite  isles;   and  from  tlieii'  ;^lassy  thrones 
liiiie  I'rotens  and  his  hnmid  nym|ihs  shall  mark 
The  shadow  of  fair  ships,  as  mortals  see 
The  lloatini;  hark  of  the  lii^ht-laden  moon 
Witli  that   white  star,  its  si^^htless  jiilot's  erest, 
I)oiMie  down  tin;  rajiid  sunset's  clihiiii;-  sea; 
Tiaekinj;  their  path  no  more  hy  hlood  and  groans, 
And  desolation,  and  tlie  mingled  voice 
Of  slavery  and  enmmand  :  hut  hy  the  liuht 
Of  wave-reHeeted  tloweis.  and  floatinu  odours, 
And  music  soft,  and  mild.  free,  p'nth'  voices, 
That  sweetest  music,  such  as  spiiits  love. 

Ai'oi.r.o 

\nd  I  sliall  iraze  not  on  the  deeds  which  make 
Mv  mind  ohseui'c  with  sorrow,  as  eeli]ise 
Darkens  the  sjihere  I  _<,Miide  :   hut  list,  I  hear  1-0 

The  small,  clear,  silver  lute  of  the  younjj  Spirit 
That  sits  i'  the  morning  star. 


ii; 


\\ 


M 


MICROCOPY    RESOLUTION    TEST    CHART 

ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No    2i 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


12.8 


13.2 


m 

■  4.0 


1.4 


[2.5 
2.2 


2.0 


1.8 


1.6 


^     APPLIED  IM^GE     Inc 


165J   Eosr  Mam   street 

Rochester,   Ne«   York         U609       uSA 

(716)    482  -  OJOO  -  Phone 

(7161    ?8R  -  Sq89  -  Fav 


no 


IM 


piiOMEriiErs  rxiiorxn 

()<  KAX 


]  25 


Thou  must  awav; 
Ihy  steeds  V  ill  Mause  at  evo.i.  till  wl,rn  fareudl: 
Iho  loud  d.;,p  calls  uw  h,„ue  even  now  to  feed  it 
W  ith  azure  calm  out  of  the  emerald  uiiis 
Which  stan.l  for  ever  full  beside  mv  throne. 
JJehold  the  Nereids  under  the  <,neen\ea, 
Their  wavering  lind)s  borne  on"the  wind-like  stream 
1  he.r  white  arn.s  lifted  o'er  their  streaming  hair        ' 
N    ith  -arlands  i)ied  and  stai'ry  sea-llower  crowns,    130 
iiastenmg  to  grace  their  mi-hty  sister's  joy. 

.  [-'  *■""""'  <'/ (races  is  heard. 

Jt  IS  tiio  uupastured  sea  hungering  for  calm. 
Peace,  monster  ;   I  come  now.      Farewell. 

Al'OI,LO 

Farewell. 

ScK.vi:  Iir._rv,/r-.,,s;,.,.  PitOMKTurt-s.  IlKKrrr.Fs  Ionk 
the  Kakth.  Sp.kits,  Asia,  and  I^vntuica,  borne  in  the 
tar  ivifh  the  Si'irit  ok  tiik  IIofk. 

IIekcitles  unhinds  PjioMirruKis.  n- ho  descends. 

IIi:U(  L'LKS 

M. St  glorious  among  sj)irits:   thus  doth  strength 
r.)  wisdom,  courage,  and  long-suffering  love,  '^  13.5 

Aiul  thee,  who  art  tiie  form  they  animate, 
Minister  like  a  slave. 

t 

PliOMKTliKr-s 

Tliy  gentle  words 
Are  sweeter  oven  than  freedom  long  desired 
-iiid  long  delayed. 

Asia,  thou  light  of  life. 
Shadow  .)f  beauty  unbeheld  ;  and  ye,  hq 


I'ROMETUFA'.^    I WliOlW I) 


111 


un 


11- 


Fair  sistor  nyin))hs,  \v!.o  luadu  loiii;  years  of  p 

Sweet  to  reinetul)('r,  tlirongh  your  love  and  care 

llciict'fortli  wu  will  not  part.    There  is  a  cave, 

All  overgrown  with  trailinj^  odorous  plants 

Which  enrtain  out  the  day  with  leaves  and  flowers, 

And  paved  with  veined  emerald,  and  u  fountain 

Leaps  in  the  nndst  with  an  awakening  sound. 

From  its  curved  roof  the  niountain's  frozen  tears, 

Like  snow,  or  silver,  or  long  diamond  spires, 

Han"-  downward,  raining  forth  a  (hjuhtful  light:      150 

And  there  is  heard  the  ever-moving  air, 

Wliispering  without  from  tree  to  tree,  and  birds, 

And  l)ees:  and  all  around  are  mossy  seats. 

And  the  rough  walls  are  clothed  with  long  soft  grass; 

A  simi)le  dwidling,  which  shall  lu'  our  own  ;  155 

AVhere  we  will  sit  and  talk  of  time  and  change. 

As  the  world  ehhs  and  flows,  ourselves  unchanged. 

What  can  hide  man  from  mutahility? 

And  if  ye  sigh,  tlien  I  will  smile  :  and  thou, 

lone,  shalt  ehaunt  fragments  of  sea-music,  160 

Until  I  weep,  when  ye  shall  smile  away 

Tlie  tears  she  brought,  which  yet  were  sweet  to  shed. 

AVe  will  entangle  buds  and  lloweis  and  beams 

Which  twinkle  on  the  fountain's  brim,  and  make 

Stransre  combinations  out  of  common  things,  1G5 

Like  human  bal»es  in  their  lirief  innocence: 

And  we  will  searcdi,  with  looks  and  words  of  love, 

Foi'  hidden  thoughts  each  lovelier  than  the  last, 

'.)ur  unexhausted  spirits:  and  like  lutes 

Fouched  by  the  skill  of  the  eni'.moured  wind,  170 

Weave  harmonies  divine,  yet  ever  new, 

From  difference  sweet  where  discord  cannot  be; 

And  hithei'  come,  sped  on  the  charnKvi  winds 

W'!,!;.!;  t!!..(.f  fi-oni  :J1  the  iioiLits  ol  lieaven,  as  bees 


t'       ! 


I       1 


112 


PliOMETIlECS    VMiOUXl) 


\\<' 


'lit 
•1    I    -l    ' 


ISO 


Yrom  ov.Mv  flowor  aerial  Kiina  feeds,  175 

At  tlicir  own  island-lioincs  in  llimera, 

Tlie  cclioes  of  the  hutiian  woiM.  wliieli  tell 

Of  tlic  low  voice  of  love,  almost  unlieanl. 

An. I  .iove-eye.l  pity's  inunnnred  ])ain,  and  music, 

Itsi'jt  the  echo  of  the  heai't,  and  all 

'J  hat  temj)ers  or  imjjroves  man's  life,  now  free; 

And  lovely  ai)])aritions,  dim  at  first. 

Then  radiant,  as  the  mind,  arising-  Ijiioht 

From  the  embrace  of  beauty,  whence  the  forms 

Of  which  these  are  the  i)hantoms,  easts  on  them      185 

The  gathered  rays  which  are  realitv, 

^hall  visit  us,  the  progeny  immortal 

Of  Painting,  Sculpture,  and  rapt  Poesy, 

And  arts,  thougji  unimagined,  yet  to  be. 

'1  he  wandering  voices  and  the  shadows  these  100 

Of  all  that  man  becomes,  the  mediators 

Of  that  best  worship,  love,  l)y  him  and  us 

Given  and  returned  ;  swift  shapes  and  sounds,  which 

g^row 
More  fair  and  soft  as  man  grows  wise  and  kind. 
And,  veil  by  veil,  evil  and  error  fall:  195 

J^uch  virtue  has  th<>  cave  and  ])lace  ;uound. 

[Tl/ruu,;/  in  ill,'  SlTUlT  OF  THE  IIoUK. 

For  thee,  fair  Spirit,  one  toil  remains.    Tone. 

(iivc  her  that  curved  shell,  which  Proteus  old 

Made  Asia's  nuptial  boon,  breathing  within  it 

A  voice  to  be  acc..mplislicd.  ami  which  thou  200 

Didst  hide  in  grass  under  the  hollow  rock. 


IdN'K 

Thou  mo^t  desired  TTour,  m..rc  lov.'d  and  lovely 
Tiian  all  thy  sisters,  this  [is]  the  my.stic  shell. 
bee  the  j)ale  azure  fadintr  into  silver 


riiOMETHEUs  iwnoryi)  11<'5 

l.iiiinj:  it  w'itli  a  soft  yet  j;lo\vin<j:  lii^lit :  '-<)') 

Looks  it  not  liUt'  lulled  music  sltH'i»ing  there? 

Sl'IKIT 

II  sceius  in  truth  tlie  faii'fst  shell  of  Ocean: 

lis  sound  must  lit;  at  once  botli  sweet  and  strange. 

PKOMKTHK.rS 

(to.  home  over  the  cities  of  niankind 

Oil  whirlwind-footed  coursers:  once  aii^aiu  210 

Outspeed  the  sun  around  the  orbed  world  ; 

And  as  thy  chariot  cleavtis  the  kindling;  air, 

Thou  breathe  into  the  many-folded  shell, 

I>oosenin<;'  its  ndiihty  music:   it  shall  be 

As  thunder  mingled  with  clear  echoes:   then  1'15 

Return  ;  and  thou  shalt  dwell  beside  our  cave. 

And  thou,  O  Mother  Earth!  — 

Thk  Earth 

I  hear,  I  feel ; 
Thy  lips  are  on  mo,  and  thy  touch  runs  down 
Even,  to  the  a<lamantine  central  gloom 
Along  these  marble  nerves  :  't  is  life,  't  is  joy,  220 

And  through  my  withere.l,  old,  and  icy  frame 
The  warmth  of  an  immortal  youtli  shoots  down 
Cindinii'.     Henceforth  the  many  children  fair 
Folded  in  my  sustaining  arms  :   all  ])lants, 
And  creeping  forms,  and  insects  rainbow-winged,    225 
And  birds,  and  beasts,  and  fish,  and  human  shai)es. 
Which  drew  disease  and  pain  from  my  wan  bosom, 
Draining  the  jjoison  of  despair,  shall  take 
And  interchange  sweet  nutriment;  to  me 
JSiiaii  they  become  like  blsLei-uiiteiopca  230 


■  ■      ' 

'i  1 

■ 

IM 


»■  V  I 


/' 


in  I 


)\ 


lU 


I'liOMETHFA-s    r.\r,oi-\i) 


2.1; 


210 


Hyoiir  fair  dam,  siK.w-wiiitc  and  swift  as  wind, 
Aiirsrd  amoii--  lilies  uvav  :i  hiinuuiun  stream. 
1  I.  ■  drw-iiiistN  of  my  siinlcss  sleep  shall  float 
I'nder  ilie  siai.  like  l,;,Im:   niulit-folde,:  flowers 
Shall  sink  iiiiuithoring-  Imes  in  tiieir  repose: 
And  men  and  beasts  in  happy  dreams  shall  <,rather 
Streii-th  for  the  croniino-  day,  and  all  its  joy  : 
Ami  deatii  shall  he  the  lastVmhrace  of  her 
\\  ho  takes  the  life  she  oav,.,  even  as  a  mother, 
I'oldmi;-  hvv  ejiild,  says,  "  Leave  me  not  a-ain  I  " 

Asia 
()  mother:  wherefore  sp.-ak  the  name  of  death? 
Cease  they  to  love,  a:id  move,  and  breathe,  and  speak, 
>\  ho  die? 

TiiK  EAiiTir 
It  woidd  avail  not  to  reply: 
Thou  art  inunortal,  ami  this  ton-ue  is  known 
lint  to  the  uueommnnieatini;  dead. 
iX'ath  is  the  veil  which  those  who  live  call  life: 
They  sh'ep,  and  it  is  lifted  :  and  meanwhile 
In  mihl  variety  the  seasons  mild 
Vv'ith  rainl).)\v-skirted  showers,  and  odorous  winds, 
And  Ion-  blue  niete(-rs  eleansin-  the  dull  ni-ht,     '250 
And  the  life-kindlino'  shafts  of  the  keen  snn'^s 
Al]-i)ierein^i;-  bow,  and  the  dew-min.i;led  rain 
Of  the  ealm  moonbeams,  a  soft  inibienee  mild, 
Shall  clothe  the  forests  and  the  fiehis,  ay,  even 
The  erao-built  deserts  of  the  barren  deep,  2','. 

AVith  ever-livin-  leaves,  and  fruits,  and  flowers. 
And  thou :   'i'iiere  is  a  cavern  where  my  spirit 
Was  pante.l  forth  in  anouish  whilst  thy  pain 
Made  my  heart  mad,  and  those  who  did  inhale  it 
IJecanie  neu]  f,w.    ..,.,1  I,,.;it  .. 


245 


1     .1 

-"iiipiu  Liiuie, 


260 


V ROM KTIl FA'S    T.V liOUXI) 


11. 


1?,: 


10 


k, 


50 


And  sjxikf,  and  wcic  oracular,  and  Inrod 

'1  lie  cniiii;-  nations  round  to  mutual  war. 

And  failldr.^s  tait li,  .su(di  as  dove  kept  with  tlieo 


ne 


W 

\  violet 


)rt  atli  now  rise 


as  aiKonLis 


t  tall 


weeds 


s  ex 


halat 


ion,  and  it  tills 


•jr.-) 


itli  a  sereiier  imlit  and  enmson  air. 


Intense,  vet  sott,  tlie  rueks  and  woods  around 


It  f( 


th 


(M'ds  tlie  (juii'k  i;r()wtn  ot  tlie  serpent  vine, 
And  the  dark  linked  ivy  tanii,lin<^  wild. 
And  huddiiii^-,  blown,  or  odoni'-faded  l)loonis  270 

W'iiich  star  the  winds  with  jioints  of  coloured  light, 
As  tlu;v  rain  throu'di  them  ;  and  l)ri''ht  jrolden  tilobos 
Of  fruit,  suspended  in  their  own  green  heaven  ; 
And  through  their  veiin^d  leaves  and  ami)er  stems 
'I'lie  llouers  wliose  purple  and  translueid  bowls         275 
Stand  ever  mantling  with  aerial  dew, 
'1  he  drink  of  sj»irits:  and  it  circles  round, 
Like  the  soft  waving  winirs  of  noondav  dreams. 
Inspiring  calm  and  ha)>])y  thoughts,  like  mine, 
iS'ow  thou  art  thus  restored.    This  cave  is  thine.       2S0 
Arise!     A])])ear! 

\_A  SriKiT  /'/.s't'.s-  1)1  the  likeness  of  a  minr/ed  child. 
This  is  my  torch-bearer  ; 
Who  let  his  lamp  out  in  old  time  with  gazing 
On  eyes  from  which  he  kindled  it  anew 
^Vith  love,  which  is  as  lire,  sweet  daughter  mine. 
For  such  is  that  within  thine  own.    Run,  wayward,    2S5 
And  guide  this  (!om])any  beyond  the  peak 
Of  l)ac(diic  Nysa,  Mienad-haunted  mountain, 
And  beyond  Indus  and  its  tribute  rivers, 
Tiampling  the  torrent  streams  and  glassy  lakes 
A\'ith  feet  unwet,  unwearied,  undelaying,  290 

And  up  tlu!  green  ravine,  across  the  vale, 
Jieside  the  windless  and  crystalline  pool 


IK) 


PliOMETlIKr-    IWIIOISI) 


h 


H 


\V  licrc  ever  lies  on  unerasing  w.-ivtvs 

Tlic  iiiia-c  of  a  tt'iiiplc,  i)iiilt,  altovc, 

Distinct  witl.  colli,,,,.,  arcl,,  aii.l  arcl,it,-avo,  •j..».i 

And  |»alr„-lii<(.  capital,  and  ovci\v,'oiiol,t 

AikI  populous  i,,ost  witl,  livi,,..-  iiiiai;r,-v, 

I'laxitclcan  shapes,  \vli,,so  ,,i;ifl,],.  s,,,ilrs 

I'lll  the  hiislicl  ail-  uiti,  cvcrhistiri-j;  love. 

It  is  (Icsci-tcl  now,  hut  once  it  hore  ;}oo 

Thy  nan,,,  Pro„,cthru.  ;  there  the  onmlons  youths 

Pjore  to  thy  lionour  through  the  divine  <;h)om 

The  lanip  \vl,ich  was  thi!,e  einblen,  :  even  as  those 

AVlio  hear  tlie  untransmitted  torch  of  hope 

Into  the  -rave,  across  the  nijiht  of  life,  sof, 

As  thou  hast  home  it  most  tri,nni»l,antly 

To  this  far  .i^oal  of  Time.      Depart,  fan-well. 

]>eside  that  temple  is  the  d.-stini-d  cave. 

ScKVK    IV._../    F„resf.      In    the    DnrhqmuiuJ    a    Cave 
PKoM,.:TiiKirs.  Asia,  P.v.ntuk.v,  Iox,,,  and  the  Spiuit 
OF  TiiK  Kakth. 

loXK 

Sister,  it  is  not  earthly:   how  it  n;lides 
Under  the  leaves!  how  on  its  lieml  there  burns       310 
A  lio-ht,  like  a  <,rreen  stai-,  wliose  emei-ald  beams 
Are  twined  with  its  fair  hair!  how.  as  it  moves, 
The  splendour  drops  in  flakes  uj),)!!  the  grass!  ' 
Knowest  thou  it? 

P-ANTHEA 

It  is  the  delicate  spirit 
That  o-uides  the  earth  throu-h  heaven.    From  afar  315 
1  he  })op,doiis  constellations  call  that  liLrlit 
The  loveliest  of  the  idanets;  and  sometimes 
It  floats  aloni,'-  the  spray  of  the  salt  sea, 
Or  mrikon  lis  chariot  of  a  to<>-t;v  eioiui 


rnOMKTUFA'S    I '.V llOl  S I) 


117 


(  »r  wallvs  tlu()iii,'li  fields  or  cities  wliilc  iiicii  slci'j),  ;5:i(> 
(  )\-  o'er  tlic  iii()iiiitain-t(>]»s.  or  down  tlic  rivers, 
<)i-  fliroii'4ii  the  i;reeii  waste  wildeiiiess,  a>  now. 


mdenii'. 


at  all  it  sees. 


I  x'lore  Jove  rei^nec 


I 


j't  loved  our  si>ti'r  Asia,  and  it  came 
Ilaeli  leisure  hour  to  diiidc  tlie  li(|nid  liulit 
()iit  of  her  eyes,  for  which  it  said  it  thirsted 
,\s  one  hit  hy  a  dii)sas,  and  with  her 


It  inado  Its  eluldisli  coiifKUfHce,  and  told  lier 
All  it  had  known  or  seen,  for  it  saw  nuieli. 
Yet  idly  reasoned  wliat  it  saw  :  and  called  her. 
For  wlienco  it  s])riinj^  it  knew  not,  nor  do  I, 
Mother,  dear  mother. 

Thk  Si'iiiiT  OK  THE  Eaktm  {ruiiiiiii'i  in  Asia) 
Mother,  dearest  mother; 
May  I  then  talk  with  thee  as  I  was  wont? 
^fay  I  then  hide  my  eyes  in  thy  soft  arms, 
After  thy  h)ohs  have  made  them  tired  of  joy? 
May  I  then  ))lay  heside  tliee  the  lon<;-  noons, 
^Vhen  work  is  none  in  the  l>rii;ht  silent  air? 

Asia 

I  love  iliee,  gentlest  being,  and  henceforth 
Can  cherish  thee  nnenvied  :  sjieak,  I  ]iray : 
Thy  simple  talk  once  solaced,  now  delights. 


;i3U 


33; 


340 


vSi'IRIT  OF  THK   EaKTII 

Mother,  I  am  grown  wiser,  thongh  a  child 
Cannot  he  wise  like  thee,  within  this  day ; 
And  happier  too:  iiajtpier  and  wiser  hoth. 
Thou  knowest  that    toads,   and    snakes,  and  loathly 

worms, 
j'vnii  venomous  ami  iiiaiieioiis  iiiri-'rs,  rniii   MOiigiiS     ■;  i;i 


I  '  ■' 


I        I' 


118 

Tint 


:'n<>Mi:rui:(s  r\n<>r.\h 


.'{.-(I 


Aulnml,,.,.,...  „., nyualk^uVr. I,..  ,■,.,...„  worl.l  • 
An,i  iI.a,,aMiun_^tlu.  l.anntsofhnM.ankin.l 

anl-h.atun..l  MM.M,  or  xvith  ,>n„.,K  a,„,Ho„ks, 
'• '-M,  sta.,1  ;;ait,  or  tal...  au.l  hnll.nv  smil.s, 
'>''^l"-'l"llsi...Tofs..lf-Jov...l  i:;nora,nv 

'/''•'^''^^f  '^''■■'•••".i^uluMuw..  spirits  rail, „an- 
-^■"1  u-o,n..n  too,  „,i;li,.>t  of  all  tliin-s  rvil 

(lI..'U,I.tair..v..ninauo,l,lwl..;;.t,,,;,,,tf,i,.,,, 

l-.|,^oodaM,    knuLtV...,,,,sin....n.lik..thec.,) 
)  iH.n  fals..  o,.  f,,,u„in,  ,,...1,.  ,...■  si.k  at  lu.art 

-;  p:.sstI,..M,.  though  tl„.ysl..,,t,a>Hl  I  nusec-n. 

\.'lKn,y  path  lardy  lay  tluou,h  a. M-e.t  city 
Into  the  u-oo.ly  lulls  surn.mulin..-  it: 


A  s..ntincl  was  sle.'pin- at  the  -ate  • 

^MK•u  there  was  lu.anl  a  soun.C  so  loml  it  sl.on 
in.  towers  a.Mi.l  the  ..oonli^ht,  vet  n.ore  swee 
iiianaiiy  von-e  Lut  thine,  sw.-etest  of  all  • 

A  lon.i^r   lon,,,r  sonn.l,  as  it  woMhl  never  emi: 
An.l  all  the  inhal.itants  leapt  sn.hlenly 

O.itol  the.r  rest,  an.l  -athere.llM  the  streets, 


3GU 


ook 
t 


305 


o 

Ihe  .nus.e  pealed  along.      I  hi.l  n.vself  ^ 

U  ithm  a  tonntain  in  the  public  s.piare, 
VN  liero  I  lay  like  the  reflex  of  the  nn.ou 
N'en  m  a  wave  under  -reen  leaves;  ,-...->  ^- 
Those  u-ly  human  shapes  and  visa-'-.. 


37U 


H  uhu-.,  I  spoke  as  having  wrought  n.e  pafn, 
1  ast  floating  through  the  air,  and  fadin-^  still  37 

"to  the  winds  that  scattered  then,:  and  those         ' 

l"n,M,  who,,.,hy,,..tsee,,.,.d,nilda,,dh,v,.|vro,.,,.s 
All. ■.•son;,,  tonl  .lisgui...  h,,I  f,|i,,„,  ,,„,,  .,„  " 

»V  ere  so,i!,'wliit  ,.1... ..,..,.  1    ..     i     ,■        ,    .   .. 


""ui   oriel  sniprise 


rUoMl.illECs    I Mior.M) 


119 


And  ;';rt'('tiiii;s  ot  (loli;^litc(l  uoiitlcr,  all 

\\  lilt  to  tlifir  slcfp  aL;aiii  :   and  wlicii  tln'  dauii 

vault',  woiddsl  tiioii  tliiid;  tliat  tciaiLs,  ami  ^llal;c.1,  ami 

efts, 
Coidd  c'lT  Ix'  Itcaiitifid'  vet  ^o  tlirv  wen-, 

And  that  uitli  linlf  clianm'  (d'  slia] r  line: 

All  tilings  had  [nit  tht  ir  evil  nature  off:  3S5 

I  cannot  tell  niv  joy,  uhrn  o'er  a  lal<<' 
rpoii  H  di'oo[iiii;;  ltoiii;li  with  iii^ht^hadc  twined, 
I  >a\v  two  a/iui'  haieynn~;  cliii'^inL;'  downward 
And  tiiinniiii;  one  li!ii;ht  hnneh  of  uniher  lieiiies. 
With  (jiii(dv  Ioiil;  Iteaks.  and  in  the  deep  there  lay    ii'.'O 
Those  lovely  tonus  iniaL;ed  as  in  a  sky  : 
So  with  my  thoughts  full  of  tiiese  happy  ehanges, 
We  meet  aj^ain,  the  happiest  (■lianL;e  of  all. 

A- 1 A 
And  never  will  we  ])art,  till  thy  ehaste  sister 
\\  ho  guides  the  frozen  and  inconstant  moon,  395 

^^  ill  look  on  thy  more  warm  and  e(pial  lii;lit 
Till  her  heart  thaw  like  tlakes  of  A})ril  snow, 
And  love  thee. 

Sl'IKIT  OF  THK  EaKTII 

What!  as  Asia  loves  Prometheus? 

Asia 

Peace,  wanton,  thou  art  yet  n(;t  old  enough. 
Think  ye  by  gazin<^  on  each  other's  eyes 
To  nudti|)ly  your  lovely  selves,  and  fill 
With  sphered  fires  the  interlunar  air? 

Sl'IlMT  OK  riiK  Kakth 
Nay,  mother,  while  my  sister  tiiuis  her  lamp 
i  is  hard  I  should  "o  darUiinjj. 


400 


II! 


ii 


H 


^-^  i'i:<>Mi:iiii:rs  rsnorsi) 

Asia 

Ijisti'ii;   look! 
['/'//'■  Sni;ii  UK  Till.;  linvK  rntcrs 

l*i;i)Mi;riii:r«; 
Wo  l\.fl  what  tI...M  !,ast  l.rar.l  an.l  s.rn  :  yet  speak  '  ton 

Sl'lKll'  ()|-    liii.;    Iloi   |. 

Sn„n  astli,"  s.)..n.l  Iia.l  .•.■asr.l  ul,,,...  iIuhuI.t  iilled 
liir  alnss.vs  ,,t  th.-  slvv  and  tli.'  ui<lc  .-ai'tl,, 
Tlirie  was  a  cliaii-c  :   tl„.  im|,aI|MM..  thin  air 
Aii.l  th."  all-ciivlin-  suiiii-ht  wciv  traii>fornM.,l, 
As  if  th.'  s..ns,>  „f  h,ve.  .li.ss..|vr.l  i,,  thnu,  '       410 

ll.id  fohlfd  its.'lf  i-ouihI  the  splirn'.l  world. 
My  vision  th.-n  -r.'w  char,  and  I  cnuld  see 
Into  the  niystcrics  of  the  nniv.'i>,t'. 
Di/zy  as  with  (hdi.L;ht  I  Hoafrd  ,|uwn, 
Winnowino  th.  hV|.tso,ur  air  with  languid  phnnes,  115 
My  (...nrsers  s„n-ht  th.'ir  l.irthplac,.  in  the  sun, 
A\  h(Mv  they  hrnceforth  will  liv  exempt  from  toil, 
i.istiinn.o;  [on J  flowers  of  vcovt;,!,],.  n,,.. 
And  when-  my  mooidihc  car  will  stand  within 
A  temple,  oazed  „pon  l.y  Phidiaii  forms  4.0 

Of  thee,  and  Asia,  and  the  Ivuth,  and  mo. 
And  you  fair  nymphs.  lookiiiL;  the  love  we  feel; 
In  memory  of  the  tidings  it  has  horne; 
Beneath  a  dome  fretted  with  j,naven  flowers, 
Poised  on  twelve  columns  of  resplend<.nt  stJue,        4.«5 
And  open  to  the  bright  and  liquid  skv 
1  <)Ked  to  It  by  an  ainpliisl).'enie  snake 
The  likeness  of  those  winrred  stee<ls  will  moek 
The  flight  from  wliieli  they  find  repose.      Alas, 
A\  hither  has  wan.u'red  now  my  partial  tono-ue,'        -|;{o 
VVh.ii  all  remains  untold  which  y.-  would  hear? 


\^  1  li;ivf  s;ii(l,  I  tl(i;ii.u  1(1  ill.    rartli  : 

It  was,  as  if  is  still,  tlit-  pain  of  Itliss 

I'u  move,  ti>  l>rcatln'.  tn  lie,      I   uaiiili  riiiLT  went 


IJl 


A 


iiioii<r  tilt!  Iiauiit^  and  (iui'ljintrs  of  man 


ikiiul. 


i:{5 


Ami  first  was  ilisa|.|ioiiit<'(l  not  to  sec 
>iii'li  ininlity  fliaii^c  as  I  liail  f»'It  witliin, 
i'",\|tit'ss(,'(l  ill  outward  tliiiii^s;   l»ut  soon  I  looked, 


Uiii^l< 


A  lid   Iti'liold,  tliroiH'S   were 

<  )iir  with  tin-  otiicr  cvfii  as  spirits  do 


<'ss,  and  nit.'ii  wa 


Iked 


410 


oil' 


awiied,  none  tiaiiiidi'd 


hate 


(lis.l 


im,  Of  lear 


ft 


Sidt  love  or  stdf-contciiipl,  on  liiiinan  lirows 

No  ni(»rt'  iiiscriljed,  as  o'er  the  ;;ate  of  hidl, 

"  All  hope  ahandoi)  ye  who  enter  here  ;  " 

None  frowned,  none  trembled,  none  with  ea<:er  fear    115 

(ia/i'd  on  another's  eye  of  cold  eominand, 

Until  the  subject  of  a  tyrant's  will 

Became,  worse  fate,  the  aliject  of  his  own, 

W  liii'h  spurred   hiiii.  like  an  oiitspcnt  horse,  to  death. 

Noni!  wroiii^'ht  his  lips  in  tnith-entan^lini^  lines        t.'iO 

Which  siiiilfd  the  lie  his  tongue  disdained  to  speak; 

None,  with  firm  sneiM-.  trod  out  in  his  own  heait 

The  sparks  of  love  and  hope  till  there  remained 

Those  l)itter  ashes,  a  soul  stdf-consumed. 

And  the  wretch  crept  a  vampire  aiiion<;'  men,  455 

riifectinj:^  all  with  his  own  hidfous  ill: 

None  talked  that  common,  false,  v''oId,  hollow  talk 

Which  makes  the  heart  deny  the  i/cs  it  breathes, 

Yet  (piestion  that  unmeant  hvpocrisy 

With  such  a  self-mistrust  as  has  no  name.  460 

And  women  too,  fraid<,  beautiful,  and  kind 

As  the  free  heavi'ii  wliieh  i'aiiis  fri  .~li  Ji^lit  and  dew 

On  the  wide  earth,  past  :   i;eiitle.  radiant  forms, 

!■  rom  custom's  evil  taint  exempt  and  pure; 

Speaking  the  wisdom  once  tiicy  I'onld  nut  tiiink,      4G5 


122 


/ 'liOMhTIIK I  -s    I  -.V  /; o  [  y  /> 


nil. 


(I  if 


Lookiiii,^  ciiiotioiis  once  tlicy  fearrd  to  fcol, 

And  cliange.l  to  all  wliicli  om.,;  tlicv  dareil  not  be, 

Yei  l)cing  now,  mad-;  eartli  like  liuaven  ;  nor  pride, 

Xor  jcahmsy,  nor  envy,  nor  iJI-slianie, 

Ti)o  hitti'rest  of  tliose  drops  of  treasured  <rall,  ITC 

8i)oilt  ti;e  sweet  taste  of  the  nepenthe,  love. 

Thronos,altar.s,judo-,nent-seats,and  prisons,  — wherein, 

And  beside  wliit-h,  by  wretched  mvu  were  borne 

Sceptres,  tiaras,  swords,  and  cliaiiis,  and  tomes 

(H-  reasoned  wron-,  j;h)ze  1  on  by  i-norance,  —         .(75 

^i  ere  like  those  inonstro.is  and  barbaric  siiai)es, 

The  f,di()sts  of  a  no-niore-reinembered  fame, 

Which  from  their  unworn  obelisks,  l.,ok  forth 

In  triumph  .."cr  tlie  palaces  and  tombs 

Of     those    who    were     their    conquerors,    nioulderin<r 

round. 
Those  imaged,  to  the  pride  of  kin-s  and  priests, 
A  u.nk  yet  nn'ghty  faith,  a  ])ower  as  wide 
As  is  the  world  it  wasted,  and  are  now 
But  an  astonisluaeut.     Kveu  so  the  tools 
And  emblems  of  its  last  captivitv. 
Amid  the  dw«>]Iiiios  of  tlic  iJeopfed  earth. 
Stand,  not  oVrthrown,  l)ut  unregarded  now: 
And  those  foul  shapes,  abhorred  by  god  and  man, 
A\  hich,  under  many  a  name  and  many  a  form, 
Stranue,  savage,  ghastly,  dark,  and  execrable,  -KiU 

U  ere  Jupiter,  the  tyrant  of  the  world  ; 
Ami  which  the  luitions,  panic-stricken,  served 
With   blood,  and   hearts   broken   by   long  hope,  and 

l(,ve 
Dragged  to  his  altars  soiled  and  garlandless, 
And  slain  among  men's  unreclaiming  tears,  i<tr, 

Flattering  the  thing  they  feared,  which  fear  u.-,.  l,..f«  1 


■1,S0 


1S5 


iTC 


lU, 


so 


rnoMETiiEus  uyiiOiWD 


123 


Frown,  inonlderim^  fasl.,  o'er  tlieir  abaiidoiii'd  shrines. 

I'lie  painted  veil,  hy  tliose  who  were,  ealh;d  life, 

Whieh  niiniicked,  as  with  colours  idly  s])read, 

All  men  believe*!  and  hoped.  i>  torn  aside;  500 

The  loaths(jnie  mask  has  fallen,  the  man  remains, 

Sccptreless,  free,  uneircuni.scribed,  l)nt  man: 

K(liial,  unelassed,  tribeless,  and  nationless, 

Exempt  from  awe,  worship,  deij^ree,  the  kini^- 

( )ver  himself  ;  just,  gentle,  wise  :   but  man.  505 

Passionless?  no,  yet  free  from  guilt  or  ])ain. 

Which  were,  for  his  will  made  or  sutTered  them; 

Nor  yet  exempt,  thoui^h  rulini;-  them  likt'  slaves, 

From  chance,  and  death,  and  mutability, 

The  clogs  of  that  which  else  might  oversoar  510 

Tlie  loftiest  star  of  unasoended  heaven. 

Pinnacled  dim  in  the  intense  inane. 


10 


ACT   IV 

SrF.XK.  —  A  part  of  tlie  Forest  near  the  Care  of  Pkomk- 
TiiKi's.  Paxtiika  (Hid  Ionk  are  dtej/lii'j  :  they  aicaken 
yraduallij  dur'uirj  the  frsf  S'nig. 

VoiCK    OF    rNsKF.V    Sim  KITS 

The  pale  stars  are  gone  I 
For  the  sun,  their  swift  shepherd, 
To  their  folds  them  comiH'lling, 
In  the  de])tlis  of  the  dawn, 
Hastes,  in  meteor-eclipsing  ai-ray,  and  they  flee      5 
Beyond  his  blue  dwelling, 
As  fauns  flee  the  leopard, 

Hut  wheie  are  ye ? 
[J  tniin  of  ihirk  Fnniis  and  Shadows  j/asses  bij 


ill 


)      I 


/' 


if 


il 


( 


I  i   f 


124        ^        I'UOMETiiEfs  vsnousD 

Here,  oil.  here : 

AVo  hear  the  hier 
Of  tlie  Father  of  many  a  caiifellecl  year  I 

Spectres  we 

Of  the  (lead  Hours  he, 
"\\  e  hear  Tii:ie  to  his  toiiih  in  eternity. 

Sti'ew,  oh,  strew 

Hair,  not  yew  I 
Wet  tlie  (histy  pall  witli  tears,  not  clew! 

IJe  the  faded  tlowei's 

Of  Death's  hare  howers 
Sl)read  on  the  eorjjse  of  the  Kin<r  of  Hours ! 


10 


15 


21 


Haste,  oil,  haste ! 

As  shades  are  chased, 
Trenihlinn'.  l>y  day.  from  heaven's  hlue  waste, 

Wt!  melt  awav, 

Like  dissolving;'  sprav,  25 

From  tlie  ehildren  of  a  diviner  day, 

With  the  luilal)y 

Of  winds  that  die 
On  the  bosom  of  their  own  liarniony ! 


loxK 
What  dark  forms  were  they  ? 

Pa  XT  hi;  A 
The  past  Hours  weak  and  ;;ray, 
With  the  spoil  which  their  toil 
Kaked  tof;;ether 
From  the  conquest  but  One  could  foil. 


30 


TT., 


loN'K 


00 


rnoMETiiErs  rxnorxD  125 

Pa NTH K A 

They  have  past ;     35 
Tlioy  oiitspeedod  the  blast, 
AVliik'  't  is  said,  tliey  arc  Hed  : 

AVliitlior,  oil,  whitlioi'? 

Pantiika 
To  the  dark,  to  the  past,  to  the  dead. 

Voice  of  I'nskkx  Spirits 
Bright  clouds  Hoat  in  heaven,  40 

I  )('\v-stai's  gk'ani  on  earth, 
Waves  assenihle  on  occ^an  : 
They  are  gathei'ed  and  driven 
By  the  storm  of  delij,dit.  by  the  ])anie  of  glee  ! 

They  shake  with  emotion,  45 

Thev  dance  in  their  mirth. 
But  where  are  ye  ? 

The  i)ine-bouohs  are  sincinfr 
Old  songs  with  new  gladness, 
The  billows  and  fountains  50 

Fresh  music  are  Hinuiuir, 
Like  the  notes  of  a  s])irit  from  land  and  from  sea; 
The  storms  mock  the  mountains 
AA  ith  the  thunder  of  gladness. 

But  where  ar(>  ye  ?  55 

ToVK 

What  charioteers  are  tiiese? 

Paxt'ifa 

V\  here  are  their  chariots'? 


ill 


II 


■!f| 


I        i 


I  '    " 


12;i  I'llOMETlIKls    IWJioiMj 

Skmiciiokcs   ()|,-    ]I,,ri;s 
Tlui  voice  of  tlie  Spirits  of  Air  uiid  .,f  Kurth 

II;i^  .liMuu  l.ark  the  lio,nv,l  cirtain  of  >.eep 
AVhicli  rovernl  <.ur  Ihm,,.^  ;u„l  .larUciuMl  our  hirtJi 

III    tilt!    (ItTj). 

A    \'()1(  !•; 

In  tin;  (lec|)? 


Skmiciioki's   II 


01),  below  the  deep. 


Semichorus  I 
An  hundred  ages  ue  had  been  kept 

Cnidled  in  visions  of  Imte  and  care, 
And  ..ach  one  wlio  waked  as  lu.s  brother  slept, 

Found  tlie  truth  — 


61 


Si'MicnoKus   II 

A\  orse  than  his  visions  were  ! 


Se:\iichouus  I 
We  have  heard  the  lute  of  Hope  in  sleep; 

We  have  known  the  voice  of  Love  in  dreams; 
We  have  felt  the  uand  of  Power,  and  leap — 

Semkiiohus  II 
As  the  billows  leap  in  tiie  niornin^'  beams! 


65 


CnoitL's 
AVoavo  the  danee  on  tli<"  floor  of  the  brec 
^  rierce  witli  song  iieaven's  sih-nt  light, 
Enchant  tiie  day  th;it  too  swiftlv  flees. 


cze, 


'l\,  ..I...„l.  u.  a- 


•  vo  ...o-.c  cic  Liie  cave  oi  niotit. 


ri: OMETiiK I 's  I  -y i: o  i  wu 


127 


(  )ii('('  the  luiii;;ry  Hours  were  lioiinds 

Wliich  chased  tliu  day  like  a  hk'edinjjf  doer, 

And  it  limped  and  stuudiled  with  many  wounds 
Tlirough  the  nightly  dells  of  the  desert  year. 


<a 


])ut  now,  oh  weave  the  mystic  measure 
( )t'  music,  and  danee,  and  shapes  of  liglit ; 

Let  the  Hours,  and  the  spirits  of  might  and  pleasure, 
Like  the  clouds  and  sunbcan)s,  unite!  80 


A  VoicK 


Pan  Tin;  A 


Unite  ! 


See,  where  the  Spirits  of  the  human  mind, 

Wrapt  in  sweet  sounds,  as  in  bright  veils,  approach ! 


Chouus   of   Si'IKITS 

We  join  the  throng 

Of  the  danee  and  the  song. 
By  the  whirlwind  of  gladness  borne  along ; 

As  the  fiying-fish  leap 

From  the  Indian  dee]). 
And  mix  with  the  sea-birds,  half  asleep. 


85 


90 


Cnn  -IS    OF    HoUKS 

Whence  come  ye,  so  wild  and  so  Heet  r  — 
For  sandals  of  lightning  are  on  your  feet. 
And  your  wings  are  soft  and  swift  as  thought. 
And  your  eyes  are  as  love  which  is  veiled  not. 


ClIOKl'S    OF    Sl-IKITS 

We  come  from  the  mind 
Of  humankind. 
Which  was  late  so  dusk,  and  obscene,  and  blind  ;     95 


mi 


128 


i 


rnoMETiiErs  vn hound 


Now  't  is  an  ocean 
Of  c'lt'ar  emotion, 
A  lu-avon  of  serene  and  niigljty  motion. 

Fi<»m  that  deep  ahjss 

Of  wonder  and  hliss, 
^Vhoso  caverns  are  crystal  })alaces  ; 

i'roni  those  skyey  towers 

Where  Thought's  crowned  powers 
bit  watching  yonr  dance,  ye  happy  Hours! 

From  the  dim  recesses 

Of  woven  caresses, 
Wliere  lovers  catch  ye  l,y  yonr  loose  tresses; 

r  rom  the  aznre  isles, 

A\'here  sweet  Wisdom  smiles, 
IJelaying  your  ships  with  her  siren  wiles. 

From  the  temples  high 

Of  Man's  ear  and  eve, 
-Roofed  over  Scnlptnre  and  ]\)esy  ; 

I'lom  the  murmurino-s 

Of  the  unsealed  si)rings 
Where  Science  bedews  his  danlal  win-s. 


100 


105 


110 


115 


Years  after  yeai-s. 

Through  ])lo(,d,  and  tears, 
And  a  thick  heJl  of  hntreds,  and  hopes,  and  fears, 

>>  o  waded  and  flew,  j„,j 

And  til."  islets  were  few 
Where  the  bnd-hlighted  flowers  of  hn,,piness  grew. 

Our  feet  now,  every  palm, 
Are  sandalled  with  calm, 
,.,._  uert  ui  vjui-  Wings  is  a  raiu  of  balm  ;       V25 


riiOMETIIEUS    UNIiOUND  129 

And,  beyond  our  eyes, 
The  human  love  lies 
Which  makes  all  it  gazes  on  Paradise. 

CliOKUS    OK    Sl'IRITS    AN'I>    HoiJRS 

Then  weave  the  web  of  the  mystic  measure  ; 

Fiom   the  depths  of  the  sky  and  the  ends  of  the 
earth,  loU 

Come,  swift  Spirits  of  might  and  of  pleasure, 

Fill  the  dance  and  the  music  of  mirtli. 
As  the  waves  of  a  thousand  streams  rush  by 
To  an  ocean  of  splendoui'  and  harmony ! 

Ciiouis  OK  Spikits 

Our  spoil  is  won,  135 

Our  task  is  done. 
We  are  free  to  dive,  or  soar,  or  run ; 

Beyond  and  around. 

Or  within  the  bound 
Which  clips  the  world  wiUi  darkness  round.  140 

We  '11  })ass  the  eyes 

Of  the  starry  skies 
Into  the  hoar  deep  to  colonize : 

Death,  Chaos,  and  Night, 

From  the  sound  of  our  flight,  146 

Shall  flee,  like  mist  from  a  tempest's  might. 


IT- 

■1  i 

I      i            1 

1  : 

p 

'■\ « 


?  \ 


And  Earth,  Air,  and  Liglit, 

And  the  Spirit  of  Might, 
Which  drives  round  the  stars  in  their  fiery  flight ; 

And  Love,  Thought,  and  Breath,  150 

The  powers  that  ijuell  Death, 
Wherever  we  soar  shall  assemble  beneath. 


130 


I'UOM  Kill  lie  s    IMiOCyj) 


I  I  >i 


i'i 


And  (till-  siii^ri„M  sliJill  h'.iild 

In  tin-  voids  loose  ticl«l 
A  world  for  tlio  Spirit  of  Wisdom  to  wield  ;  ir,5 

W  o  will  take  our  \>\au 

From  the  new  world  of  man. 
And  our  work  shall  he  eallt'il  the  Promethean. 

Ciiours  OF  HouKs 
Break  the  danee,  and  scatter  the  son<" 

Let  some  depai't,  and  s(Mne  remain.  160 

SkMK  lloiil'S   I 

AVe,  beyond  heaven,  are  driven  ahjng: 

SkMK'IIoUI'S    II 

Us  the  enchantments  of  earth  retain  : 

Skmhiioius   I 
Ceaseless,  and  rapid,  and  fierce,  and  free, 
With  the  Si)irits  which  l>nild  a  new  i-arth  and  sea, 
And  a  heaven  where  yet  heaven  could  never  be.       105 

SKMK'UOIurs    J I 
Solemn,  and  dow,  .and  serenu,  and  bright, 
Lcadinjj;'  the  Day,  and  outspeedini,'  the  Ni-ht, 
With  the  powers  of  a  world  of  perfect  ligiit. 

SKiMKHOHI'S    I 

We  whirl,  sin<]fin<;  loud,  round  the  ,<,rathering  sphere. 
Till  the  trees,  and  the  beasts,  and  the  clouds  appear 
Irom  its  chaos  nia<le  calm  i>y  love,  not  fc;ir.  171 

SkMK  ilOKl'S    II 

t»  x;  ^»iv..iv.ic  tiic  ucxciu  ami  iiiountams  of  earth. 


I'liOMETIIEVS    UMlorXI) 

And  the  happy  forms  of  its  death  and  birth 
('liaiii;c  to  th(^  iimsic!  of  our  sweet  iniith. 


131 


ClloKl'S    OF    n 


ovKs  .\M>  Si'iuir.- 


Hri'ak  the  dance,  and  scatter  th 


e  SOU' 


Let  some  depart,  and  some  remain 
W  iierever  we  tiy  we  h'ad  alom;- 


In  h;ashcs,  like  starl 


Tl 


)eanis,  soft  vet  stronii-, 


le  eloud.s  that  are  lieavy  with  love's  sweet  rai 


n. 


Pa.ntiik.v 


Ha  I  they  are 


;one 


I 


O.NK 


Yet  feel  von  no  deliulit  1 


80 


From  the  ])a.st  sweetness? 


'  t 


t^  i 


l'A.N"Tin:A 


As  the  hare  green  hill, 
Wlien  some  soft  elond  vanishes  into  rain, 
Langhs  with  a  thousand  drops  of  sunny  water 
To  the  unpavilioned  sky  ! 


lONK 


Even  whilst  we  s])eak 
New  notes  arise.    What  is  that  awful  sound? 


IS.' 


Paxthka 
'T  is  tiie  deep  music  of  the  rolling  world. 
Kindling  within  the  strings  of  the  waved 
-Kolian  modulations. 


air 


lONK 


How  every  pause  is  tilled  with  under-notet 


/' 


132 


viioMKTiiKrs  rxiiorxi) 


l!f 


il  i 


00 


('l(':ii-,  silver,  icy,  k,.,.,,  awalicnin;;  t„i,t.s,  joq 

Wl.icli  pific-  the  sense,  and  live  within  the  soul, 
As  the  shaip  stars  pierce  winter's  crystal  air, 
And  gaze  upon  thcnisclves  within  the  sea. 

I  *A  NT  I  IK  A 

But  see  where,  thn.ii.-h  two  openiu-s  in  the  forest 
^^  hicl:  haii-in-'  hrun.-hes  overcanopy,  j,,,- 

And  where  two  runnels  of  a  tivnlet 
Jietween  the  close  nioss,  violet-inwoven. 
Have  made  th.^ir  path  of  inelody,  like  sisters 
|\  ho  part  with  siol.s  that  they  n.ay  meet  iu  smiles, 
liirnm^r  their  dear  disunion  to  an  isle 
()f  lovely  orief,  a  wood  of  sweet  sad  thou<^hts  ; 
Two  visi,)Ms  of  stian-e  radiances  float  upon 
The  ()cean-like  enchantmerit  of  stron<,'  sound, 
AVliicli  Hows  intenser,  kc^ener,  deep.. "yet. 
Under  the  ground  and  through  the  windless  uir.      205 

To\K 

I  see  a  chariot  like  that  thinnest  boat 

In  whieh  the  mother  of  tin;  months  is  horne 

r.y  ebbing  night  into  her  western  cav.-, 

When  she  upsprings  from  interlunar  dreams; 

Oyr  which  is  curved  an  orblike  canopy  210 

Of  gentle  darkness,  and  the  hills  and  woods 

Distinctly  se..u  through  that  dusk  airy  veil, 

K'egard  like  shapes  in  an  enchanter's  glass  ; 

Its  wheels  are  solid  clouds,  azure  and  gold,' 

Such  as  the  gvnii  of  the  thunderstorm"       '  215 

I'ih'  on  the  floor  of  the  illumined  s.ni 

AN  lien  the  sun  rushes  uniler  it  :   they  roll 

And  move  and  grow  as  with  an  inward  wJtuI  .- 

"^\  ithin  it  sits  a  winged  infant,  white 


190 


ist 


i(»; 


es. 


.'00 


riioMKTinns  r.v iioi  w u 


i;];5 


Tt 


s  coimtciiaiicc,  like  ilic  w 


l.iti 


flifss  ol   hrii-lit  SHOW,  JJO 


It-  |iliiiiit's  air  as  ft-atlicrs  of  sniiiiv  tiost. 


liii 


ll.S  -1 


faiii  wliitc.  tlir(»ii''li  tlic  uiii 


low  iiii'- 


fol 


lis 


(  M  it>  wlii'.'  rolic,  \\o.>t'  of  ctlit'ical  [n-arl. 

Its  Iiaii'  is  wliitc,  llif  !)ri"lifiic>s  of  wliite  lio-lit 

>rattt're(l  in  strings;   yt't  its  tu(»  eyes  art'  iK-avciis  2. 

(  M'  li([ui(l  (larkiit'ss,  wliicli  tlio  ilcitv 

W  itliin  siM'iiis  |)oiiriiiL;',  as  a  storm  is  poured 

I' I'oiii  ja^■JJ;('■(l  clouils,  out  of  their  arrouv  laslu's, 

'rriiii>eriii_<;  the  eohl  and  radiant  air  around, 

\\  ith  lire  that  is  not  luitihtness  ;   in  its  hand  J.': 


It  sways  a  (jiiiverini;-  nioonheain,  troni  wliose  point 

j\  f^iiidinn'  ])ower  directs  tlie  chai'iot's  prow 

Over  its  wheeh'd  elouvls,  whicdi  as  they  roll 

Over  the  grass    and  flowe  s,  and  waves,  wake    -lounds 

Sweet  as  a  sinnjnii'  rain  of  silver  (iaw.  i;>, 


2{)l. 


210 


215 


Paxtmka 

1  from  the  otlier  opienini;  in  the  wood 
.     shes,  with  loud  and  whirlwind  harmony, 
A  sphere,  whieh  is  as  many  thousand  spheres, 
Solid  as  crystal,  yet  through  all  its  mass 
Mow.  as  tlirouL''    empty  space,  jnusic  and  light:      240 
fen  thousand  orbs  involving  and  involved, 
I'luph;  and  azure,  white,  green,  aiul  golden. 
Sphere  within  s])here  .  and  every  space  between 
Peopled  with  unimaginal)l(>  shapes. 
Such  as  ghosts  dream  dwell  in  the  lam])less  deep,    2-15 
Yet  each  intertranspicuous,  and  thev  whirl 
Over  each  other  with  a  thousand  motions, 
I'lion  a  thousand  sightless  axles  spinning. 
And  with  the  foire  of  self-destrovin^'  swiftness. 


Tut 


eiiselv,  slowlv,  soleiunlv  I'oll  < 


>n. 


250 


Kindling  witli  mingled  sounds,  and  many  tones 


1    i 


:    I 


•JGO 


L'df) 


Iiit.'li;.4lMr  \v,,i-,U  ;,,,,!  imislc  wild. 

Will,  iniuhty  u|,i,l  ,|„.  „.nltii,„li s  ,„1, 

(irin,l>  thr  l„i^l,i   l„.,H,k   ini,,  ;,,,  ;,^,,|,,.  ,„i,( 

Of  ••IruM'iit.il  suhtlctx,  Jili,.  li.|,,. 

Ami  til..  uil.I  ,„|.>iir  <,f  the  lo'ivst  ll..u,.rs, 

Tlu'  iimsi,-  ,,f  til,,  liviu-  Mrass  and  air, 

Tin.  ,.i„.. raid  li-i.t  of  ]rat-,.ntai.-l..d  Lraiiis, 

I'om.d  its  iiitrns..  yi't  .s..]f-,„nflirtiii-  spued' 

^"•••iii  luH.a.N.d  int.)  .,1,,.  aerial  mass" 

\Vlii,.I,  dn.wi.s  il...  sen>e.      Within  tl.o  orl.  itself, 

J  illowed  u|i.)n  its  alahastt.p  arms. 

I-iI<L'  to  a  ehild  o'cruearie.l  with  sue.t  t..il, 

()ii  its  „wn  f.d.h..!  win-s  an.i  waw  hair, 

Th..  Spirit  of  tho  Karlh  is  lai.l  asi..e].,    ' 

And  y.)M  ean  see  its  little  lips  arc  nioviii-, 

Ami.l  the  chanuin-  li^^ht  .,t  tlu.ir  own  sndk-s, 

Like  ono  who  talks  of  what  ho  lovos  in  dream. 

loVK 

'Tis  only  mocking  the  orl.'s  harmony. 

I'antiik.v 
And  from  a  star  upon  its  for,.hea<l,  shoot, 
Like  sw,»n!s  of  azure  lire,  or  -..Iden  spears 
U  itli  tyrant-cpiellin-;'  myrtle  ovintwined, 
Kml.lemin-  h..aven  and  earth  nnit(..l  now, 
\  ast  beams  like  sp.,kes  of  some  invisible  wheel        -74 
U   neh  whirl  as  the  orb  whirls,  swiff.r  than  thou-d.t, 
I'llliny  the  abyss  with  snn-like  liyhtnin-s, 
An.l  i)erpendi(.Mlar  n.)w,  and  now  transverse, 
IV'ree  the  .lark  s.,il,  and  as  they  pieree  an.l  j.ass, 
Alake  bare  the  seerets  .,f  the  ..artirs  deep  heart; 
Inhnite  mine  of  a.Iam.uit  an.l  -.)1,|.  gSO 

V  aiUelesH  ^ito^es,  and  imiiiia"ine(t  "..ms 


L'.),i 


270 


rnoMi-.TiiKis  r.Miorsn 


135 


An.l 


(•;i\i'i-iis  on  crvstalliiii'  (•olmiiiis  jioisnl 


W 


ill  vc-cialili-  silver  ovfispi  cad 


\\  •  lU  nl   iiiil.it  hoiiird  liif,  and  uatci-s|tiiii:;>< 


W 
W 


irlirc 


till'  ;4r(at  sea  t'vcii  as  a  fluid  i- 


frd. 


285 


iii)>(' 


vapniirs  cliitlir  taitli's   iiioiiarrli  iiiouiitaiii-tnps 


\\  itli  kiii^lv,  ciiiiiiif  sii()\ 


Til.'  1 


M'aiiis 


ash  oil. 


And  iiiakt;  appciir  tlu;  iiu  laiiclioly  ruins 
(  )i'  caniidU'd  cyiKs  :   ancliors,  licaks  of  ships  ; 
riiiiUs  turned  to  niarlilc  ;    quivers,  ludnis,  and  si)oars, 
And  ^or-ondicaded  targes,  and  the  wheels  291 

( )t'  scvthed  chariots,  ;'nd  the  enililazonry 
(  )l'  trophies,  standards,  and  armorial  beasts. 
Koiind  whicli  Death  hiuf^hed,  sepulchred  endjlenis 
(  )t"  dead  destruetion,  ruin  within  inin  I  295 

The  wreeks  heside  of  many  a  eitv  va.-^t. 


\y 

Tl 


lose 


I">I 


)n 


hiti 


ion  whiidi  the  earth  ^rew  over 


;is  luori 


il,  hut  not  human  ;   sei",  they  lie, 

th  skelet( 


leir  monstrous  works,  and  uncouth  skt 


)ns. 


'I'lieir  statues,  homes  and  fanes  :  |iiodi;^ious  shapes  ;UJt) 

Huddled  in  L;ray  annihihitioti,  split, 

dammi'd  in  the  hard,  black  deep:  and,  over  these, 


TI 


le  anatomies  o 


f  unl 


viiown  w'in";i'( 


It! 


imi 


And  tishes  which  were  isles  of  livin<jj  scale, 

And  serpents,  hony  (diains,  twi-ted  around 

The  iron  craLljs,  or  within  lieaps  of  dust 

To  whicdi  the  tortuous  stiH'n-th  of  their  last  pangs 

Had  crushed  tiie  iron  cia^s:   and  over  these 

The  jaji^ed  allii;ator,  and  the  mii^ht 

<  )f  earth-eonvulsiiiLj  hehenioth,  which  once 

Were  monarch  beasts,  and  on  the  sliinv  shores, 


305 


310 


And 


weei 


l-overiirown  continents  of  earth, 


Increaseil  and  multiplied  like  summer  worms 

(  )n  an  aliandoued  cor|)se,  till  the  blue  <;!obe 

\\  rapt  delui;e  round  it  like  a  cloke,  and  they  315 


I 


b 


136 


Ji 


HH. 


PiiOMETiiEi  -s  I \ynorxr) 


325 


1|1K.1,  .aspcl,  and  wore  aholisl.e.l :  or  some  God 
^hose  throne  .as  in  a  con.t.  past,  a.^ 
i^enot.    And  J,ke  n.y  w.u.ls  tlH.y  uoie  no  moi-e. 

TuK  Eaktii 
The  joy,  the  trinn.ph,  the  delight,  the  madness! 
The  boundless,  ove.Howino,  l,u,stino-  .Ja.Iness     300 
Tho  vaporous  exultation  not  to  be  confined !         ' 
^1:1  ■   lia.  tlie  animation  of  deli'rjit 
^J  bic-b  wraps  n.e,  like  an  atmosphere  of  bgl^t, 
And  bears  me  as  a  cloud  is  borne  by  its  owxAvimI! 

Tni:  Moov 
Brother  mine,  calm  wanderer, 
Happy  globe  of  land  and  air  ' 
Some  Spirit  is  darted  like  a  belm  from  thee, 
U  Inch  i)enetrates  ,nv  frozen  frame 
And  ^  asses  with  the  war.nth  of  flame, 

AVitb  love,  and  odoui,  and  deep  melody  330 

-liaough  me,  through  me! 

Thk  K.VKrif 

My  cl.  ven  fire-crags,  sound-exulting  fountains 
T-.h  w.tb  a  vast  and  inextinguishaM.-  lauglZ^ 
J       oceans,  and  the  deserts,  an.l  the  abvs'Ses,       335 

And  the  deep  an.  s  nnmeasun-d  wildern;sses 
Answer^^rom   all   their  clouds   and   bilIo:Ceehoing 

They  e,y  aloud  as  I  do :  Sceptred  curse, 

>v  no  all  our  o-reen  ind  m-„,„^ 

,^n-*ii  and  a/ure  universe 


Threatenedst  to 


sendinjr 


muffle  round  with  black  destructi 


on, 
340 


ritOMETIIKVS    UNBOUND 


137 


i 


A  solid  cloud  to  rain  hot  thunder-stones, 
And  s})linter  and  knead   down  my  children's  bones, 
All    I    l)rinij    forth,  to   one    void    mass  luittcriug   and 
bleniling ; 

Until  each  crag-like  tower,  and  storied  column, 
Palace,  and  obelisk,  ami  temple  solemn,  345 

My  imperial  mountains  crowned  with  cloud,  and  snow, 
and  fire  : 
My  sea-like  forests,  every  blade  and  blossom 
Which  fin('    a  grave  or  cradle  in  my  bosom. 

Were  stamped  by  thy  strong  hate  into  a  lifeless  mire. 

How    art    thou    sunk,  withdrawn,   covered,   drunk 
"1^  350 

By  thirsty  nothing,  as  die  brackish  cup 
Drained  by  a  desert-troop,  a  little  drop  for  all ; 
And  from  beneath,  around,  within,  above, 
Filling  thy  void  annihilation,  love 
liursts  in  like  light  on  caves  cloven  by  the  thunder- 
ball  I  355 

The  Moox 

The  snow  upon  my  lifeless  mountains 

Ts  loosened  into  living  fountains, 
My  solid  oceans  flow,  and  sing,  and  shine: 

A  spirit  from  my  heart  bursts  forth, 

It  clothes  with  unex])ected  birth  360 

My  cold  bare  bosom  :  Oh.  it  must  be  thine 
On  mine,  on  mine  I 


'  1 

1;. 

(lazing  on  thee.  I  feel,  I  know. 
Green  stalks  burst  forth,  and  bright  flowers 
grow. 
And  living  shaj)es  uj'on  my  bosom  move:         305 


138 


V. 


I 


!t!i 


I'noMKTiirArs  UN  no  und 
^Insic  is  in  the  .sea  and  air, 
^\  in^c.l  clouds  soar  here  and  there 
Dark  with  the  raiu  new  l.u.ls  are  dreamin 
T  is  love,  all  love  .' 


J?  of; 


TlIK   Eaktii 
It  interpenetrates  .ny  graiiite  mass,  g-^ 

Through  tan<,W.3d  roots  an<l  trodden  elay  doth  pass, 

into  the  utmost  leaves  and  deli.-atest  flower.  • 
Lpon  the  winds,  anion;,^  the  elomls  't  is  spread: 
it  wakes  a  life  in  the  forgotten  dea<I,— 

ll.ey  l.reathe  a  spirit  up  from  their  obscurest  bowers. 

And  like  a  storn,  bursting  its  cloudy  prison  376 

V\  ith  thunder  n     |  with  whirlwind,  has  arisen 
Out  of  the  lampless  eaves  of  unimagined  bein-: 

^^  Ith  earthquake  shock  and  swiftness  .naki,;;^-  shiver 

H.nght  s  stagnant  chaos,  unremove,;  for  evx-r,    ;58() 

ill  hate,  and  fear,  and  pain,  light-vanquished  shadows, 

ileeni"'.  ' 


Leave  Man.  who  was  a  many-sided  mirror, 
U  Inch  could  distort  to  ,nany  a  shade  of  error. 

This  true  fan-  worhl  of  things,  a  sea  reflecting  love; 
A\  hich  over  all  his  kind  as  the  sun's  heaven         .IS", 
^:ri,d,„g  o'er  ocean,  s.nooth,  serene,  and  even 

Dartmg  from  starry  depths  radiance  and  life,   doth 
move ; 


We  Man,  even  as  a  leprous  child  is  left, 
U  ho  follows  a  sick  l„>ast  to  souie  warm  cleft 
^i  rocks,  through  which  the  n.ight  of  healing  springs 
IS  poured, —  '^ 

llien  wlien  it  wauders  home  with  rosv  sn.ilo 


riiOMETHEVs  uMiouyn 


139 


Unconscious,  and  its  niotlier  foais  awliilo 
It  is  a  spirit,  tlien,  weeps  on  her  cliilil  restored  : 

Man,  oh,  not  men  !  a  chain  of  linked  thought, 

Of  love  and  inii;ht  to  he  divided  not,  395 

C'Maiyelling  the  elements  with  adamantine  stress; 

As  the  sun  rtdes,  even  with  a  tyrant's  gaze, 

The  luupiiet  rei)nl)lic  of  the  snaze 
Of  i)lanets,  struggling    lieree  towards   heaven's   free 
wilderness: 


t 


! 


ia 


jNIan,  one  harmonious  soul  of  many  a  soid,  400 

Whose  nature  is  its  own  divine  control. 
Where  all  things  flow  to  all,  as  rivers  to  the  sea; 

Familiar  acts  are  l)e;uitiful  through  love  ; 

Labour,  and  pain,  and  grief,  in  life's  green  grovo 
Sport  like  tame  beasts,  none  knew  how  gentle  they 
could  be  I  405 


His  will,  with  all  mean  passions,  bad  delights, 
Antl  selfish  cares,  its  trend)ling  satellites, 
A  spirit  ill  to  guide,  but  mighty  to  obey. 
Is  as  a  tempest-winged  ship,  whose  helm 
Love   rules    through   waves   which   dare   not  over- 
whelm, 410 
Forcing    life's    wildest    shores    to   own   its    sovereign 
sway. 

All  things  confess  his  strength.     ThrouL-h  the  cold 

mass 
Of  marble  and  of  colour  his  dreams  pass ; 
liright  threads  whence  inotiiers  weave  the  robes  their 

children  wear  ; 
Languagt'  is  a  perpetual  orjihic  song,  416 


■(  I 


I'll 


lill . 


Pt 


)e- 


1-^0  rUOMETIIEUS    VXli(jUXl) 

WlnVlM.ul..switlMla..lalJmnn<,nv  a  throng 
Of  tl.o,.,l.ts  an.l  fonus,  ulu-c-l,  .Ise  senseless  and  sha, 
less  wore.  ^ 

The  li^l.tnin^  is  Ins  slave:  Leaven's  ntrnost  deep 
(xives  up  lier  stars,  and  like  a  Hoek  .,f  sheep 
J  hey  pass  before  his  eye,  are  nnnd.ered, .-,  nd  roll  on !  4'0 
Jhe  ten.pest  .s  his  steed,  he  strides  the  air  • 

And  the  abyss  shouts  from  her  de]>th  lai.l  hare, 
Heaven,  hast  thou  secrets?    Man  unveils  nie ;  I  have 
none. 

TiiK  jroox 
The  shadow  of  white  death  has  juast 
iMom  my  path  in  heaven  at  last 

A  ='li»gin^^  shroud  of  solid  frost  and  sleep- 
nd  throuoh  my  newly-woven  bowers,    ' 
W  under  hapjiy  i)araniours. 
Less  miyhty,  b.it  as  mild  as  those  who  keep 
Thy  vales  more  deep. 

Thi:  Eakth 
As  the  dissolvino;  warmth  of  dawn  n,nv  fold 
A  half  ,nf,.ozen  dew-.lobe.  green,  nn.lgold. 
And  erystalhne,  till  it  becomes  a  win-ed  mist 

And  wanders  up  the  vault  of  the  blue  day   ' 

Outhves  the  noon,  and  on  the  sun's  last  ,",V 

Hangs  oer  the  sea,  a  fleeee  <.f  fi,.  and  an.ethyst. 


125 


430 


435 


Thk  :\roox 
Thou  art  folded,  thou  art  Iving 
III  the  light  which  is  undving  " 

Of  thine  own  joy,  and  heaveu's'sndle  divine; 
AJl  suns  and  (•oiisteIl''*!'.!'s  •■' -- 


riiOMKTHE U S    UNB 0 UND 


141 


w 


On  tliee  a  liglit,  a  life,  a  power 
Wliic'h  (lotli  array  thy  spear  ;  tliou  pourest  thine 
On  mine,  on  mine  I 

'I'mi:  E.viiTir 
I  spin  bencatli  my  i)yrami(l  of  iiii;lit, 
Which  i)()ints  into  the  heavens,  (lre:i!nin!f  deliL^it,  1 15 
INIurnuiring  victorious  joy  in  my  enchanted  sleep  ; 
As  a  youth  lulled  in  love-dreams  faintly  sighing, 
Under  the  shadow  of  his  beauty  lying. 
Which  round  his  rest  a  watch  of  light  and  warmth 
doth  keep. 

The  IMooN 

As  in  the  soft  and  sweet  eclipse,  450 

When  soul  meets  soul  on  lovers'  lips. 
High   hearts   are   calm,    and    brightest   eves   are 
dull : 
So  when  thy  shadow  frdls  on  me, 
Then  am  I  mnte  and  still,  by  thee 
Covered;  of  thy  love.  Orb  most  beautiful,        455 
Full,  oh,  too  full ! 


*  * 


Thou  art  speeding  ronnd  the  sun. 
Brightest  world  of  many  a  one  ; 
(jreen  and  azure  sphere  which  shiiiest 
With  a  light  which  is  divinest 
Among  all  the  lamj)s  of  heaven 
To  whom  life  and  liiilit  is  ffiven. 
],  thy  crystal  paramour. 
Borne  beside  thee  bv  a  ])ower 
Like  the  ])olar  paiadisc. 
Magnet-like,  of  lovers'  eyes  ; 
I,  a  most  enamoured  maiden 
W  liose  weak  brain  is  overladen 


4GU 


4()5 


!lMi  i 


nil . 


I  n 


142 


rnoMKTiii:i-.s  r.v/>or.v/^ 


"\Vitli  tlic  ploasun'  of  hw  lovo, 
Maniac-Iiko  aroiiiid  tiicr  move 
(iaziii_<,s  an  iiisatiat*;  \mih\ 
On  tliy  form  from  c'V(>rv  side 
Like  a  Ma'uad,  round  tlie  cup 
^Vlu'tdi  Agave  liftud  up 
In  the  weird  Cadinean  forests. 
Brother,  wheresoe'er  thou  soarost 
I  must  luirry,  wliirl  and  follow 
TJu-ou-h  the  heavens  wide  and  hollow, 
Sheltered  by  the  wai-ni  emhraee 
Of  thy  soul  from  hungry  space, 
Drinking  from  thy  sense  and  sight 
Beauty,  majesty,  and  might, 
As  a  lover  or  cameleon 
(Jrows  like  what  it  looks  upon  ; 
As  a  violet's  gentle  eye 
(iazes  on  the  azure  sky 
Until  its  hue  grows  like  "what  it  beholds, 
Asa  giay  and  watery  mist 
Glows  like  solid  amethyst 
Athwart  the  western  mountain  it  enfolds, 
When  the  sunset  sleeps 
Upon  us  snow. 

'I'm:  KAitTH 
And  the  weak  day  wee])s 
That  it  should  be  so. 
O  gentle  Moon,  the  voice  of  thy  delight 
Falls  on  me  like  thy  clear  and  tendeHight 
Soothing  the  seaman,  borne  the  summer  night 

'I'lirough  isles  for  ev(>r  calm  : 
O  gentle  Moon,  thy  crystal  accents  pierce 
The  caverns  of  my  j)ride's  deep  universe, 


470. 


475 


480 


4S5 


490 


495 


500 


V  ROM  ETHEL'S    UN  HOUND  143 

Charniiin;  tin'  tij^er  joy,  wliose  tiainplings  fierce 
Miule  vvotiiuls  \vlii(;li  need  thy  balm. 

I'antmka 

I  rise  as  from  a  bath  of  sparkling  water, 
A  bath  of  azure  light,  among  dark  roeks, 
( )iit  of  the  stream  of  sound. 

loNE 

Ah  me  I  sweet  sister,  505 
The  stream  of  sound  has  ebbed  away  from  us, 
And  you  pretend  to  rise  out  of  its  wave, 
Ut'canse  your  words  fall  like  the  clear,  soft  dew 
Shaken  from  a  bathing  wood-nymph's  lindjs  and  hair. 


Pea 


Pa  XT  hi:  A 
ace  I  ])eace  I     A  mighty   Powei-,  which  is   as   dark- 


ness, 


510 


Is  rising  out  of  Earth,  and  from  the  sky 
Is  showered  like  night,  and  fioin  within  the  air 
linrsts,  like  eclipse  which  had  been  gathered  up 
Into  the  pores  of  sunlight:  the  bright  visions, 
AVlierein  the  singing  s])irits  rode  and  shone, 
(ileam  like  pale  meteors  through  a  watery  night. 

luNK 

There  is  a  sense  of  words  upon  mine  ear. 

Pa  XT  hi:  A 
An  universal  sound  like  words:  Oh,  list! 

I)K>1(><ioi;(i()N' 

Thou,  Earth,  calm  cm])ire  of  a  happy  soul, 
Sphere  of  divinest  shapes  anil  harmonies, 


■f! 


HI 


)20 


144 


vnoMETiiKis  rxnorxi) 


t'l 


M> 


I!oa„tir„l  „rl, :  „„t .i„j,  ,„  t|,„„  ,,,,^j  ,.,^1, 

II"-  I..V.  wl,i.l,  paves  .l,v  pati,  al„„j;  ti.e  skios: 

Tin:  FvMtin 
1  liear;  I  am  as  a  dr.,,,  „f  ,|,>u.  tlmt  dies. 

I)K.M(»(i(ii;(i(,x 

r\unu  M,.on,  whicd,  j^az.st  on  tl.c-  ,u\rhtly  Earth 

n  irh  wonder,  as  it  -azes  upon  tluM- :  r,,^ 

W  lulst    each     to    „,en,    and     Leasts,    and    the    swift 
birth 
Of  birds,  is  beauty,  love,  cahn,  harmony: 

Tmi:  Moox 
I  hear:  lama  leaf  shaken  by  thee  ! 

I)i;.M(;(;()i;(;().v 

Ye  kings  ..f  suns  and  Stars!  Daemons  and  Gods, 
.l.thereal  Dcmnnations  !  who  possess  5.30 

i^lysian,  windless,  fortunate  abodc-s 

Beyond  Heaven's  constellate<l  wilderness: 

A   VOKK   V\U)M   AHon-; 

Our  great  Kepul^lie  h.ars ;   we  are  blest,  and  bless. 

DmiofjoifrrOv 
i^'  happv  dead  !   whom  benn.s  of  brightest  verse 

Are  elouds  to  hide,  not  c-olours  to  portray,  535 

^^  iH.fher  your  nature  is  that  universe 
\\  hieh  once  ye  saw  and  suffered  — 

A   VoKK   FROM   BKNKATH 

xv\  1         ,  Or  as  they 

XT  ..on;  -.vc  iiave  ieit,  we  ehange  .n<l  pass  away.' 


rnoMKTiiF.vs  vsnorsD 


14; 


I) 


I'MIMiuKfiON 


Vc  ol(Miioiit;il  (ifiiii,  who  have  lioiiios 

I'loiii  inan's  liii^^li  iiiiiid  even  to  tin-  central  stone  TA{\ 
Of  siilli'ii  lend  ;   from  Heaven's  star-fretted  don.es 

To  tlie  dull  weed  some  sea-worm  battens  on: 


A  Com  rsii>  \'<>i 


iV. 


\Ve  1 


icar 


tl 


IV  words  waken 


Ol 


)livion. 


530 


I)kmo(;ok(;o\ 

Spirits,  whose  homes  are  Hesh :  ye  beasts  and  birds, 
Ve  worms,  and  lish  ;  ye  living  leaves  and  buds  ;    Tilf) 

Lit'litnin"-  and  wind  ;  and  ve  untameable  herds, 
Meteors  and  mists,  which  throng  air's  solitudes: 

A  Voi<  K 
Thy  voice  to  us  is  wind  among  still  woods. 

DKMOOOlKiOX 

Man,  who  wert  once  a  despot  and  a  slave; 

A  dupe  and  a  deceiver  ;  a  decay;  650 

A  traveller  from  the  cradle  to  the  grave 

Through  the  dim  night  of  this  immortal  day : 

All 
Speak  I  thy  strong  words  may  never  pass  away. 

Dkmogorgox 

This  is  the  day,  which  down  the  void  abysm 
At  the  Earth-born's  spell  yawns  for  Heaven's  despot- 
ism, •"'•'»5 
And  Conquest  is  dragged  ca])tive  through  the  deep: 
Tjovc.  from  its  p.wful  thr'>ne  '^f  ontient  ixuver 
In  the  wise  heart,  from  the  last  giddy  hour 


( \ 


lie 


\    \     X      i 


!'fl   . 


II 


n  [  \ 


rnOMETllKVS    [  -.v  IK) I W I) 


Of  .iivM.I  .■ii.Iur.ui.v,  In.iM  tlu^  >li|.iM.ry,  stccj), 
An.l  ..;,in,\v  v...-v  ,.f  ,t;.--1,U,.  :,-ony,  spriii-s 
Aii.l  folds  over  tilt;  woil.l  it.s  lie;iliii;r\viii.rs/^ 


rm) 


(i.nllrtlcss   \'i,tur,   WiMl,,,,.,  .■,.1,1    Kri.I.M-Mnoo, 
'lli'M-  an.  thr  seals  <,f  that  i.i..st,  li,„,  assura.-icG 

^^  U'u'U  hars  til,'  pit  „v,.,.  l),.stnicti,)irs  streii^^th; 
And  if,  witii  infir,,,  1,;|,„|,  KtiMiity,  "      '555 

Mnt]H'.v  ,)f  many  acts  aii,l  Iioms,  .sii,)iiM  fre,; 
^    Til,.  s,.i|„.„t  that  uouM  .-lasp  her  with  his  lon-th 
-TIk-so  are  th.-  spdls  l,y  which  in  iv-assuinc 
An  empire  o'er  the  disentaiii-led  doom. 


To  suffer  woes  which  Hope  thinks  infinite; 
To  for-iye  wron-s  ,larker  than  death  or  ni'-ht: 

To  dety  Power,  which  seenis  oni-iijjotent ; 
To  love,  and  hear:  to  hope  till  IIopo  creatc's 
From  its  ,>wn  wreck  the  thin-  it  conte.nj.lates  ; 

Neither  to  chan-e,  nor  falter,  nor  repent; 
This,  hke  thy  -lory,  Titan,  is  to  be 
(iood,  great  and  joyous,  heautifnl  and  free; 
Tins  is  alone  Life,  Joy,  Empire,  and  Victory! 


r>70 


fi 


70  Tin-:  M(><>.\ 


147 


THK    WORLDS    WANDKIIKKS 

Tki.I,  iih',  tlum  st.ir,  wliosr  wiiii^'s  (if  li^lit 
Spfcd  I  liri'  in  t  li\-  licT\'  tli'^lit, 
I  M   U  ll.ll    I'.l  vein   (it    t  lie   lli^lit 

Will  t  liv  jiiiiitiiis  clnx'  now'.' 

I  (11  iiic,  iiioDii,  limn  pale  and  ^ray 
IMli^frim  of  Iicavfii's  lioiiich'ss  way, 
III  what  (Icptli  of  iii^lit  or  dav 
St'L'kest  t  Ik  111  repose  now? 

Weary  wind,  who  wanderest 
Like  the  worhl's  r<>jeeted  j^iiest, 
Hast  tlion  slill  some  secret  nest 
On  tlie  tree  or  billow? 

ISUO. 

THK   WANING   MOON 

Axi>  like  a  dyin<;  ki'b''  ^'''^"  '^'"^  pale, 
Mho  totters  forth,  wrajit  in  a  gauzy  veil, 
Out  of  her  ehainber,  led  I)}'  the  insane 
And  feehle  wamlerinj^s  of  her  fadiii;^  hrain, 
The  moon  arose  u])  in  the  murky  East, 
A  white  and  shapeless  mass. 


10 


TO   THE    MOON 

Art  thou  pale  for  weariness 

Of  cliiMhint^  heaven,  and  gazing  on  the  earth. 

Wandering  eompanionless 

Among  the  stars  that  have  a  different  birth,  — 
1 : i:i- .  ..   -•  ...1 , 


That  iiuds  no  object  worth  its  constancy? 


1    I 


11  f 


148 


.sr>.vc; 


(iOOl)    NKIHr 

(;<toi)  NK.Hi  '  all.  no:   tlit>  lioiii-  is  ill 

Wliicli  sfvns  tlinsc  it  >liniili    unite: 
Iji't,  US  I'cniain  tontilirr  still. 

Tli'n  it  will  \>v  ijiintl  niL;iit. 

lli>\v  can  I  fall  the  loiu>  nii;lit  t;i>()(l,  6 

ThoiiLili  lliy  swcft  wislifs  winj;  its  {li«,'lit? 
lie  it  not  saiil,  tiionulu,  understood, 
Then  it  will  l»e  ijnod  ni^^lit. 


To  hearts  which  near  each  other  move 
From  eveniiifjj  elo.se  to  moininj;  light 
The  nii;ht  is  ^ood  :   hecausi-.  my  love, 
Thcv  never  .sf///  <^ood  night. 
1820. 


10 


b.  xr, 

IvAUKLV,  rarely,  eoniest  thon, 

Spirit  of  Delight: 
"Wheiefore  hast  thou  left  me  now 

Many  a  day  and  night? 
Many  a  weary  night  and  day 
'T  is  sinee  thou  art  Hed  away. 

How  shall  ever  one  like  mo 
AVin  thee  baek  again '! 

With  the  joyous  and  the  free 
Thou  wilt  scoff  at  ]>ain. 

Rnirit  fiilse  !    tlioii  liast  forirot 

All  but  those  who  need  thee  not. 


10 


\ 


SOS  a 


As  a  li/.:inl  with  thr  sliado 


Of  a  tifiiiWlmi;  l<a 


lion  w  I 


th  sdiTi'V   a 


It  (li>uiavi-(l 


KvcM  the  si-lis  (.f  Mr'uf 


n'.> 


15 


Ucproai 


•  1,  (lire,  that  tlioii  ait  not  near. 


Ami  rtj)i<»a( 


h  thuii  will  not  lie;ir. 


Lot  in«'  --('t  my  mourn 


fill  aitty 


'!'(•  a  Jiii'MV  nn'a>uro 


t  iicwr  fonif  ti>r  pity, 
TlL.ti  wilt  rouie  fni'  l.lrasuic 


hou  w  11 


ritv  then  will  cut  away 


Those  cruel  wings,  and  thou  wi 


lit  stay. 


20 


10 


I  love  all  that  tliou  lovest, 


Spirit  of  lKlii;lit. 
The  fresh  Harth  in  new 
And  the  starry  ni-ht 


loaves  drcst, 


Autumn  evfiun< 

AVhen  the  golden  mi.^ls  are  born 


and  the  morn 
I. 


30 


I  love  snow,  am 

Of  the  radiant  frost 


1  all  the  fuiins 


1  winds,  and  storms, 


I  love  waves,  am 

Everything  almost 
AVhieh  is  Nature's,  and  may 
Untainted  hy  man's  misery. 


1)0 


36 


10 


I  love  tvanqnil  solitude, 

And  sueh  society 
As  is  (piiet.  wise,  a 


Between  thee  and  m 


lU 


1  unod 


40 


What  difference '.' 
The  thinus  I  sor'ic 


But  thou  dost  possess 


.ni 


less. 


•■^a 


'^i.'j^. 


150 


! 


snxc;  or--  rnosEurixE 

I  lovo  L()V(i  —  tlioiiL:]!  lie  lixs  \viii"-s, 

And  like  lii^ht  can  Hcc, 
r>ut,  al)()ve  all  other  tliiiurs, 

spirit,  I  love  tlieo  — 
Thou  art  love  and  life!  ()  come, 
Make  once  more  my  heart  thy  home! 


TO 


I  VK\n  thy  kisses.  <,a'ntlo  maiden, — 
Thou  needest  not  tear  mine  ; 

My  spirit  is  too  deeply  laden 
Ever  to  l)urthen  thine. 

I  fear  thy  mien,  thy  tones,  thy  motion. 
Thou  needest  not  fear  mine; 

Innocent  is  the  lieart's  devotion 
With  which  I  woiship  thine. 


45 


SONG   OF   PROSERPINE 

Win^.ST  GATHEKIN(    FLOWKUS  OX  TllK  I'LAIX  OF  EN'XA 

SaCKKD  Goddess.  Mother  Earth, 
Thou  from  whoye  inunortal  bosom 

Gods,  and  men,  and  beasts  have  birth, 
Leaf  and  blade,  and  bud  and  bk)ssom, 

Breathe  thine  influence  most  divine 

On  thine  own  cjiild,  I'roser])ine. 

If  with,  mists  of  evenin^^  dew 

xi.„vi    ..;t.;.-ji,   »i./,ii  i.iii    tiit.-n;    \otlil^    iioWCI'S 


l\ 


AUTUMN 

Till  tlioy  J^i'ow,  in  scent  nnd  hue 
Fiiirest  children  of  the  Hours, 
Hrcathc  thine  intiueace  most  divine 
On  thine  own  child,  Pioserpiue. 
1820. 

AUTU^IN 


151 


10 


III 


i'^ 


A  iJlliCiE 

TlIK  warm  sun  is  failing,  the  hleak  wind  is  wailin^^. 
The  bare  boughs  are  sighiuL;',  the  i)ale  ilowers  are  dying ; 

And  the  year 
On  the  earth,  her  death-bed,  in  a  shroud  of  leaves  dead, 
Is  Iving.  5 

Come,  months,  come  away, 

From  \ovend)er  to  ^la}', 

In  your  saddest  array  ; 

Follow  the  bier 

Of  the  dead  cold  year,  10 

And  like  dim  shadows  watch  by  her  sepulchre. 

The  chill  rain  is  falling,  the  nipped  worm  is  crawling, 
The  rivers  are  swelling,  the  thunder  is  knelling 

For  the  year : 
The  blithe  swallows  are  tlown,  and  the  lizards  each 
gone  15 

To  his  dwelling. 
Come,  months,  come  away; 
Put  on  white,  black,  and  gray  ; 
J-iet  your  liglit  sisters  play  — 
Ye,  follow  the  bier  20 

Of  the  dead  cold  year. 
And  make  her  grave  green  with  tear  on  (ear. 
\s-20. 


tl . 


152 


THE  (QUESTION 


TliK  QUESTION 


I  DUKAMKI)  tli.'it,  as  I  war  lered  by  tlie  way. 

Haro  wiiiti'i-  siuldt'iily  \    is  clianged  to  spring', 
And  geiitlo  odours  led  my  steps  astray, 

Mixed  with  a  sound  of  waters  luurniuring 
Along  a  shelving  l)ank  of  turf,  which  lay  5 

I'nder  a  copse,  and  hardly  dared  to  fling 
Its  green  arms  '-ound  tlu'  l)osom  of  tht;  stream, 
JJut  kissed  it  and  then  fled,  as  thou  mightest  in  dream. 

There  grew  pied  wind-flowers  and  violets  ; 

Daisies,  those  ])earled  Arctnri  of  the  earth;  10 

The  constellated  flower  that  never  sets  ; 

Faint  oxlips;  tender  hluehells,  at  whose  birth 
The  sod  scarce  heaved  :  and  that  tall  flower  that  wets  — 

Like  a  eluld,  half  in  tenderness  and  mirth  — 
Its  mother's  face  with  heaven-collected  tears.  15 

AVhen  tlu!  low  wind,  its  playuiate's  voii-e.  it  hears. 


And  in  the  warm  hedge  grew  lush  eglantine, 

(ireen  cowl)ind  and  the  moonlight-coloured  may. 

And  cherry-olossoms,  and  white  cups,  whose  wine 
Was  the  bright  dew  yet  drained  not  by  the  Day ;  JO 

And  wild  roses,  and  ivy  serpentine, 

With  its  dark  buds  aiul  leaves,  wandering  astray  ; 

And  flowers  azure,  black,  and  streaked  with  gold, 

Fair(!r  than  any  wakened  eyes  behold. 

And  nearer  to  the  river's  trembling  edge  25 

There  grew  broad  flag-flowers,  purple  prankt  with 
white  : 

And  starry  river-buds  among  the  sedge: 

And  tioatimx  water  lilies,  hroad  and  bright, 


;\ 


UYM.!   OF  AI'OLLO 


153 


10 


15 


Wliich  lit  the  oak  that  ovorliuiiij  the  h('(1<:;e 

\\'ith  nioonlii^ht  heaius  of  their  own  watery  light ;  30 
And  Imli-uslies,  ami  reeds  of  sneh  deep  green 
As  s(U)thed  the  dazzled  eye  with  soIht  sheen. 

Mctlionght  that  of  these  visionary  flowers 
1  madt!  a  nosegay,  bound  in  sueh  a  way 

riiat  the  same  hues,  whleh  in  their  natuial  bowers   35 
Were  mingled  or  ojjposed,  the  like  array 

Kept  these  imprisoned  ehildi'en  of  the  Hours 
Within  my  hand,  —  and  then,  elate  and  gay, 

I  hastened  to  the  spot  whence  I  had  come, 

That  1  might  there  present  it!  —  O,  to  whom? 
1S20. 


40 


HYMN    OF   APOLLO 

TllK  sle(>pless  Hours  who  watch  me.  as  I  lie 
Curtained  with  star-inwoven  tapi-stries 

From  the  broad  mooidight  of  the  sky, 

Fanning  the  busy  dreams  from  my  dim  eyes, — 

Waken  me  when  their  Mother,  the  gray  Dawn,  5 

Fells  them  that  dreams  and  that  the  moon  is  gone. 

Then  I  arise,  and  climbing  Heaven's  Idue  dome, 
I  walk  over  the  mountains  and  tlic  waves, 

Leaving  my  robe  upon  the  ocean-foam  : 

My  footsteps  pave  the  clouds  with  tire:  the  caves   10 

Are  filled  with  my  bri^■ht  ])resence  :  and  the  air 

Leaves  the  green  eartli  to  my  embraces  bare. 

Tlic  sunbrains  arc  mv  shafts,  with  wliich  T  kill 
Deceit,  that  loves  the  night  and  fears  the  day  ; 

All  men  who  do  or  even  imagine  ill  15 

Fly  me.  and  fiom  tlie  L;iory  of  my  ray 


1 


m 


154 


iiyM.\   OF  r.i.y 


(iO(,«i  minds  ;iii(l  o|»rii  actions  take  new  nii"lit, 
Until  tliniini.-.  jd  l)y  the  lei-n  of  ni;;ht. 

I  teed  the  clouds,  the  rainlxjus,  and  the  flowers, 

\\  ith  their  a'tliereal  e(»loii!'s  :   the  Moon's  <'lobe     20 

And  the  pure  stars  in  their  eternal  bowers 
Are  cinctured  with  my  i)ower  as  with  a  robe; 

^\  hatever  lami)s  on  Karth  or  Heaven  niav  shino 

Are  portions  of  one  power,  which  is  mine. 

I  stand  at  noon  upon  the  peak  of  Heaven  :  25 

Then  with  nnwillimj;-  steps  I  wander  down 

Inti»  the  clouds  of  the  Atlantic  even  : 

For  grief  that  I  depart  they  weep  and  frown  : 

A\  hat  look  is  more  deli-htful  than  the  smile 

"\\  ith  which  I  soothe  them  from  the  western  isle?      3U 


I  am  the  eye  witli  which  the  universe 
Jieholds  itself  and  knows  itself  divine; 

All  harmony  of  instrument  or  verse, 
All  proj)hecy.  all  medicine,  ai'e  mine. 

All  light  of  art  or  nature  :  —  to  my  song 

Victory  and  praise  in  their  own  ri«rht  belon': 
18211. 


35 


H Y.M.N   OF   J'AN 

FuOM  (he  foH'sts  and  highlands 

A\'e  come,  we  come  ; 
From  the  river-girt  islands, 

^\  here  loud  waves  are  dumb 
Listening  to  my  sweet  pipings. 
The  wind  in  the  rt'cds  an.l  tlie  rushes, 

'I'l...     1 ^      ....      .1.  1         !1  ,•      .   T 

- —       ^^„    ....    ^..^    .jv.!..,   >/i    iiijiiiu, 


JIVM.X   OF  /'.LV 
The  birds  on  the  invitk'-bnshcs. 


Tl 


w  ('icaltj  abovt;  m  thu  Jiiiit', 


And  thi!  lizards  l.t  h 


i)\v  in  tliL'  "^rass. 


w 


CIV  as  silent  as  uvor  old  Tniol 


us  was, 


List 


fninjj;-  to  my  swet't  jiij)ing\s. 


O,) 


10 


3U 


'S 


Liquid  Pcniiis  was  flowing, 

And  all  dark  Tcnipc  lay 
In  Pulion's  shadow.  out<r''owin^ 

The  lij;ht  of  the  dyini^-  day, 
Speeded  by  iny  sweet  ])i]>in!;s. 
The  Sileni,  and  Sylvans,  and  Fauns, 

And  the  Nymphs  of  the  woods  and  wiives, 
To  the  edge  of  the  moist  river-lawns,  20 

And  the  briidv  of  the  dewy  eaves, 
And  all  that  did  then  attend  and  follow, 
W  ere  silent  with  love,  as  you  now,  Aj)ollo, 
\\  ith  envy  of  my  sweet  jiipings. 


.     i 


35 


I  sang  of  the  dancing  stars,  25 

I  sang  of  the  (hedal  Earth, 
And  of  I  leaven  —  and  the  giant  wars, 

And  Love,  and  Death,  and  Jiirth  ;  — 
And  then  1  changed  my  ])i))ings,  — 
Singing  how  down  the  vale  of  Ma-nahis  30 

I  pursued  a  maiden  and  clasped  a  reed  : 
Gods  and  men,  we  are  all  deluded  thus! 

It  breaks  in  our  bosom,  and  the.i  we  l^leed : 
All  wept,  as  I  thiidi  both  ye  now  would. 
If  envy  or  age  liad  not  frozen  your  blood,      35 

At  the  .sorrow  of  my  sweet  pipings, 
is'jo. 


''I 


156 


Ai:i:Ti{rsA 


11 


•  t| 


I  i 


ARKTHrSA 

Aui.i  iirsA  :i!()so 

From  licr  coiicli  ot'  snows 
In  tin-  Acroi  ••raiiiii.ui  iiioniitaius, — 

From  (-lord  and  from  rra^, 

"With  many  a  jas.^,  5 

Sln'lilierdiiiu'  lu'i-  liri<,dit  fonntaiiis. 

SIic  It-apt  down  tlif  rocks, 

Witli  lier  rainljow  locks 
Streaming  among  tlie  streams  : 

Her  stt'i)s  j)ave(l  with  green  10 

The  (lownwai-(l  ravine 
"Which  slopes  to  the  western  gleams: 

And  gliding  and  springing, 

She  Went,  ever  singing 
In  murmurs  as  soft  as  sleep.  I.'j 

The  l^arth  seemed  to  love  her. 

And  Heaven  smiled  al)ove  her, 
As  she  lingered  towards  the  deep. 

Then  Ali)hens  bold, 

On  his  glacier  cold,  20 

With  his  tri(l(Mit  the  mountains  strook  ; 

And  opened  a  cha-ini 

In  the  I'ocks  :  —  with  the  spasm 
All  Ervmanihus  shook. 

And  the  blade  south  wind  25 

It  concealed  behind 
The  ui'us  of  the  silent  snow. 

And  eartlupiake  and  thunder 

Did  render  in  sunder 

Ti.  -  1 f  ^1...  ,,,>,.;,.,.•.■  iw.i.^^v-  an 

I'he  beard  and  the  hair 

Of  f'u>  > '  •■(-I'-ii-dil  wi-re 


ARETIIUSA 


ir>i 


Seen  <lir()U!;li  tlif  torriMit's  sweep. 
As  he  i'oUowi'd  the  liu'iit 
Of  tlie  iU'et  iiynipirs  lliirli^ 

To  tilt'  hiiiik  of  till'  I)ori:in  deep. 


35 


10 


15 


20 


''  O  save  iiic  !     ( )  uiiidc  riie, 

And  hid  tlic  dt'ip  hide  iiic, 
For  lie  grasps  inc  now  l»y  the  li;iir  .  " 

Tlic  loud  Ocean  heard, 

To  its  l)hie  dt'ptli  stirred, 
And  divided  at  lier  )»rayer; 

And  under  tlie  water 

Tlie  Earth's  white  daughter 
Fled  like  a  sunny  beam  ; 

lii'hind  her  descended 

Her  billows,  unblended 
With  the  braekish  Doi'ian  stream: 

Like  a  i;looniy  stain 

On  the  (iuierald  main 
Ali)heus  rushed  bidiind,  — 

As  an  eai;le  ])ursuing 

A  dove  to  its  ruin 
Down  the  streams  of  the  cloudy  wind. 


40 


sn 


Under  the  bowers  55 

Where  the  Ocean  Powers 
Sit  on  their  ])earled  tlirones  ; 

Throivgh  the  coral  woods 

Of  tlie  weltermu-  floods: 
Over  hea])s  of  unvalued  stones:  60 

'I'lirough  the  dim  beams 

Which  amid  the  strt  am^ 
Weave  a  network  of  coloured  liuht ; 

And  under  the  caves 

Where  the  shadowy  waves  flfi 


15H 


( 

1 

! 

I 

1 

1 

'^\ 


THE  ci.oru 

An;  as  i^Tccii  as  tlu;  for(>st's  iiiylit: 

(  )iit^|iccilinL;  the  >liark. 

-\ii(|  tlic  sword-lish  daiU, 
I  iKlcr  t  lie  (>(•(  ail  foam. 

And  >i|i  tlimiiL;ii  tlif  I'ifts  70 

( )t'  tin-  iiiipiiiilaiii-clilts 
llicy  passed  (o  tluir  l)()ii;iii  lioiiie. 

And  How  fidiii  tli('ir  fountains 

In  Knna's  nKuintains, 
Down  one  vale  wlicie  tlio  morning  basks,  7") 

Ld\e  friends  oncf  paitcil 

(irown  siiiL;l('-lieaite(l, 
They  ])Iy  tlieir  watery  ta.sks. 

At  sunri>e  tlicy  leap 

From  tlieir  cradles  steep  80 

In  the  eave  of  the  shelving  l,ill ; 

At  noontide  they  How 

Through  the  woods  below, 
And  the  meadows  of  asphodel; 

xVnd  at  uiglit  tluy^  sleep  85 

In  the  rocking  deep 
Beneath  the  Ortygian  shore;  — 

Like  spirits  that  lie 

In  the  azure  si 
When  they  love  but  live  no  more.  90 

1820. 


I  HRIXd  frt'sh  showers  for  the  thirsting  flo 
Fi'om  th(!  seas  and  the  stitMUis: 

1  bea.r  liL''!!t  sliadi^  for  tlic  h'.'ivi"^  '-■.!!!■?>.  Ir-'-l 
In  their  i.ooii  !,  v  dreams. 


wers, 


'^ 


Tin:  rj.ori) 


ir.i) 


Fi'Dtn  mv  wine:-;  •'"■''  '^ii:ili''M  tlic  dews  tliiit  wiikon     5 

'I'lii'  sweet   ImkU  e\er\    one, 
W'lieii  i()(l<e(l  to  lest  on  tlieif  iiiotlier's  breust, 

A-i  she  (lances  about  the  sun. 
I   wieM  the  ilail  of  the  hisbin^-  liail. 

And  whiten  the  i;i-een  ])lains  nndcr,  10 

An<l  then  a^ain  I  dissolve  it  in  lain. 

And  laugh  as  I  pass  in  thunder. 

I  sii't  the  snow  on  the  mountains  Ixdow, 

And  their  j;r('at  pines  ^roan  aghast; 
And  all  the  ni^ht  'tis  my  ])illow  white,  15 

While  I  sleej)  in  the  arms  of  the  blast. 
Sublime  on  the  towers  of  my  skyey  bowers, 

Liiihtninj,^  my  pilot  sits; 
In  n  cavern  under  is  fettered  the  thunder, 

It  strui;L;les  and  howls  at  lits  ;  20 

Over  earth  and  ocean,  with  gentle  motion. 

This  jnlot  is  tiiiidinjj^  me, 
Luri'd  by  the  love  of  the  _i:;enii  that  move 

In  the  depths  of  the  ])urple  sea  : 
Over  the  rills,  and  the  erat^s,  and  the  hills,  25 

Over  the  lakes  and  the  plains, 
\\'lierever  he  dream,  under  mountain  ut  stream, 

The  Spirit  he  loves  remains  ; 
And  I  all  the  while  bask  in  heaven's  blue  smile, 

Whilst  he  is  dissolving-  in  rains.  30 


The  sanguine  sunrise,  with  his  meteor  eyes. 
And  his  burning  plumes  outspread, 

Leaps  on  the  baek  of  my  sailing  rack. 

When  the  morniug-star  shines  dead; 

i-v.s  oil  tne  ]ag"  ui  a  liiriiUiL.iiii  crag. 

Which  an  earthquake  rocks  and  swings, 


35 


1(10 


TiiK  cutrn 


All  cai^It'  alit  OIK'  jiKiiin'iit  may  sit 

111  tilt"  lii^Iit  (if  its  l;(iI(1(ii  uini^s. 
And  wlirii  sunset  may  l>iv:itln-.  fn.iii  tlic  lit  soa  lit'iicatli. 

Its  aidoiirs  of  rest  anil  of  love,  49 

And  tlic  ciim^oii  |)all  of  eve  niav  fall 

l''i<>m  tiu!  (Irptli  of  licavcn  aliovo, 
\\  itli  \vin'4s  folded  I  rest,  on  mine  airv  nest. 

As  still  as  ri  hroodin"  dove. 

That  oi'lied  inaidi'ii,  with  wlutc  flro  laden,  40 

Whom  mortals  call  the  moon. 
Glides  i;limmeiin<,'  o'er  my  fiecee-like  floor, 

By  the  midnii;ht  I)i'eezes  strewn  ; 
And  \\h.       I'er  the  heat  of  her  unseen  feet, 

W  Inch  only  the  ani^cls  hear,  50 

May  have  hioken  the  woof  of  my  tent's  thin  roof, 

The  stars  jjeep  hidiind  her  and  jieer  ; 
And  I  lauj^h  to  see  tluMu  whirl  and  flee, 

Like  a  swarm  of  Ljolden  hees, 
When  I  widen  the  rent  in  my  wind-built  tent,  Sfi 

Till  the  ealm  rivers,  lakes,  and  seas. 
Like  strips  of  the  sky  fallen  through  me  on  liio-h, 

Are  each  paved  with  the  moon  and  these. 

I  bind  the  sun's  throne  with  a  bnrninir  zone. 

Antl  the  moon's  with  a  i^iidle  of  pearl  ;  fiO 

The  voleanoes  are  dim.  and  tlie  stars  reel  and  swim, 

AVhen  the  whirlwinds  my  banner  unfurl. 
From  cape  to  cape,  with  a  bridye-like  shape, 

Over  a  toricnt  sea. 
Sunbeam-proof,  I  hani;- likt,'  a  roof,  65 

The  mountains  its  eolumns  be. 

J  be  tl'liimnlinl    rireli    tliroimli    »»'lii<ili    T   r»ini.^V> 

With  hurricane,  fire,  and  snow. 


TO   A    shVLAUK 


IGl 


•;ii 


AVlicii  tl\t'  ])()\v<'i's  of  flic  air  arc  chained  to  my  cliair, 


Is  tlic  inillioii-coloiircd  1 


)C)\V 


70 


'I'lic  sphere  llic  ahovc  its  suit  coldnrs  wove 
A\  liile  the  iiKtist  caith  was  laii"hiiiLr  l»cl 


ow. 


1 


4r. 


50 


I  .1111  till'  <lanul      I'  of  earth  and  waiv  r, 

And  the  iiiirsliiii;-  of  the  ^l<v; 
I  pass  throiiiih  the  pores  of  the  ocean  and  shores;     75 

I  chani^'e,  Imt  I  cannot  die. 
For  after  the  rain,  when  with  never  a  stain 

The  pavilion  of  heaven  is  hai'e. 
Ami  the  winds  and  snnheanis  with  their  convex  clcuns, 

IJuild  np  the  hlne  dome  of  air,  SO 

I  silently  lani^li  at  niv  own  cenotajdi, 

And  out  of  the  caverns  of  rain. 
Like  a  child  from  the  womb,  like  a  gliost  from  the  toinh, 

1  arise  and  unbuild  it  again. 
1820. 


fiO 


TO  A  SKYI.AUK 

IIaik  to  thee,  blithe  spirit! 

Ibrd  thou  never  wert. 
That  from  heaven,  or  near  it, 
Pourest  thy  full  lieart 
In  profuse  strains  of  unpi'emeditated  art.  5 

IIii;lier  still  and  hiiiher 

From  the  eartli  thou  sprinji^est 
Like  a  cloud  of  fire  ; 

The  blue  ch'cp  thou  winjjost,  9 

And  sincjinnj  still  dost  soar,  and  soarinjr  ever  sin-rest. 


In  the  2r(dden  liirhtninL' 
Of  the  sunken  sun, 


1G2 


lit    A    Sh  )  l.AUK 


;i 


O'er  wliicli  cluiids  aii-  lui^lit  iiiiiir, 
I  Imu  (l(»t  lliiat  iiiul  niii  ; 
LiUt;  :iii  uiiljodii'd  joy  wliosc  race  is  just  Ir'^mih.  la 

Tlic   pale   pllljilr  cVfll 

Ml  Its  an. nil. 1  thy  fliLclit  ; 
Like  a  star  ot  liuavcii, 
III  (III-  liicad  (laylij^lit 
Thuu  art  misei'ii,  Imt  yet  I  hear  thy  shrill  ilclight,     'J(» 

Ki'cii  as  art'  the  arrows 
(  )t'  that  silv(  r  ^iihoru 
W  ho.x-  iiilfiisc  laiii)»  iiari'ow.s 
III  the  white  <Ia\vii  ch'ar, 
Until  we  harillv  set",  wt;  fcul  that  it  is  thore.  25 


All  the  earth  and  air 

U'itii  thv  voice  is  lov.d. 
As,  when  niL;ht  is  bare. 

From  one  lonely  eloiid 
The  moon  rains  out  her  heaius,  and  heaven  is  over- 
fli)W'ed.  M) 


What  thou  art  we  know  uot ; 

What  is  most  like  thee? 
From  rainhow  clouds  there  flow  not 

Drojis  so  hrii^ht  to  see. 
As  from  thy  presence  showers  a  rain  of  melody. 

Like  a  poet  hidden 

In  the  lii^lit  of  thon^-lit. 
Sinking'  hvnins  unliidiU'ii, 

'1  ill  tlie  uuild  is  wrou^^ht 

To 


[i5 


»yiiipain\   witn  uupes  ami  lears  it  neeaed  iioi  :       lu 


fo  .1  si(Y/.Ai:h' 


1(;.3 


III  .1  |i;ilai'i'  tuwcr, 
S(Mii  liin^'  licr  iMVt'-ladiii 

SiHil  ill  ■^('(■l•(■t  lidiir  4\ 

W  illi  iiiiisic  .-,U(ft  :is  lovr,  \sliirli  ovcrllous  lier  Itowcr: 

Lilvi.'  a  ^'IdW-wor  111  ^oKlvu 

I  II   a   ill  II  1(1    ilrW, 

Scalti-rini;'  iiiiiirlii»lili'ii 
Its  ai'i'ial  liMc 
Aihuiil;   the  tli)\vcrs   ami   yrass,  wliicli   si-iTeii    it    from 
tile  view  :  ,-,0 

Ijik(!  a  tdm;  cmliiiwcrcil 

III  its  own  ^lerii  leaves, 
J>y  warm  wimis  iletlowered, 
Till  till.'  seeiit  it  L;ive.s 
MaUes  faint  with  too  iiiueli  sweet  these  heavy-winged 
thieves.  55 

Sound  of  vernal  showers 

( )n  the  twinkiinL,'  <;rass, 
liain-awakened  flowers,  — 

All  that  ever  was  5!) 

Joyous,  and  clear,  and  fresh,  —  thy  music  doth  surpass. 

Teach  us,  sj.rite  or  bird. 

What  sweet  tliouj^hts  are  thine  : 

I  have  never  heard 

Praise  of  love  or  wine 
That  panted  forth  a  flood  of  rapture  so  divine.  65 

Chonis  I  IvMien.tep.l. 
Ov  triumphal  eliaunt. 


Mf- 


liil 


1G4 


TO  A   SKYLARK 


Matched  with  thine  would  be  all 
Hilt  an  empty  vaunt,  — 
A  thing  wlierein  we  feel  tlieie  is  some  hidden  want.    70 

What  ohjeets  are  the  foinitains 

Of  thy  hai)|)y  strain  ? 
Wliat  fields,  or  w;ive<.  or  monntains  ? 

Wiiat  shapes  of  sky  or  ])lain?  74 

What  love  of  thine  own  kind?  what  ii^niorance  of  pain? 

With  thv  clear  keen  ioyancj 

J^angiior  eannot  be : 
Shadow  of  annoyance 

^ever  canit!  near  thee  : 
Thou  lovest :   but  ne'er  knew  love's  sad  satiety.  SO 

Waking  or  asleep, 

Thou  of  deatli  must  deem 
Things  more  true  and  deep 

Than  we  mortals  dream,  34 

Or  how  could  thy  notes  flow  in  such  a  crystal  stream  ? 

We  loolf  before  and  after. 

And  pitie  for  what  is  not : 
Our  siiicerest  laughter 

With  some  pain  is  fr;iught  : 
Our    sweetest    songs    are   th,.se   that    tell   of    saddest 
thought.  gQ 


T  1,..- 


Yet  if  we  could  scorn 

Hate,  and  ])ride.  and  fear; 
If  we  were  things  born 

Not  to  shed  a  tear. 


...4-    1 i.1...     •  ^  ,  T 

■  ■"~  ■'•'•'"■''  "'V  r''j  "'■.eevcr  nuoum  come  near.     u5 


ODE   TO   LlliFAiTY 


165 


Better  tli.an  all  measures 

Of  (k'li_<;litfiil  sound, 
Better  than  all  treasures 

That  in  hooks  arc  found, 
Tiiy  skill  to  poet  were,  thou  seorner  of  the  ground !    100 

Teach  nie  half  the  gladness 

That  thy  brain  must  know, 
Sutdi  harmonious  nuulness 
From  my  lij)s  would  flow, 
The  world  should  listen  then,  as  I  am  listeninjrnow.  105 
1S20. 


ODE   TO    LIBERTY 

Yet,  Freedom,  yet  thy  banner,  torn  but  flyinpf, 
btreaiiis  like  a  thunder-sturni  au'aiust  thu  wind. 


Byron. 


A  OLOUK^US  people  vibrated  a<;ain 

The  lightning-  of  the  nations:  Liberty, 
From  heart  to  heart,  from   tower  to  tower,  o'er  Spain, 

Scattering  contagious  fire  into  the  sky. 
Gleamed.    ]VIy  s(ml  spurned  the  chains  of  its  dismay,  5 
And,  in  the  rapid  ])lumes  of  song, 
Clothed  itself,  sublime  and  strong  ; 
As  a  young  eagle  soars  the  morning  clouds  among. 
Hovering  inverse  o'er  its  accustomed  prey  : 

Till  from  its  station  in  the  heaven  of  fame         10 
The  Spiiit's  whirlwind  rapt  it,  and  the  ray 
Of  the  remotest  sphere  of  living  Haine 
^\  Inch  ))aves  the  void,  was  from  behind  it  flinig. 

As   foam    from   a  ship's   swiftness  ;    when    there 

came 
A  voice  our  of  the  deep:  I  will  recor<l  the  same. — 


1G6 


ODE   TO  LIllERTY 


11 

"  Tlie  S.in  and  the  sercnest  Moon  si)ran-  fortli :        10 

I  li.'  l.iirnin-  stars  of  the  al.vss  wen-  \nxvU\ 
I<.^.  the  (l.-pths  of  lieave.,.     The  danlal  eartli, 

'I  hat  ishin.l  in  tlie  ocean  of  the  world, 
III'.  -  in  its  cloud  of  all-sustaining  air ;  20 

V»\\t  this  divinest  universe 
A\  as  yet  a  chaos  and  a  curse, 
For  thou  wi.rt  not :   but   power  f  lotn  worst  produeino- 
worse,  ^ 

The  spirit  of  the  l)easts  was  kindled  there, 

And  of  the  birds,  and  of  the  watery  forms,        25 
And  there  was  war  anH)ng  them,  and" despair 
A\  itliin  them,  raisin-  without  truce  or  terms: 
ilit'  bosom  of  their  violated  nurse 
Groaned,  for   beasts   warred   on   beasts,  and  worms 
on  worms, 

And   men   on   men  ;  each  heart  was  as  a  hell    of 
storms.  2Q 


III 

"Man,  the  imperial  shai)e,  tlien  multiplied 

ilis  o-enerations  under  the  })avilion 
Of  the  Sun's  throne  :  palace  and  i)yramid. 

Temple  and  prison,  to  many  a  swarming  million 
\S  ere  as  to  mountain-wolves  tiieir  ragged  caves. 
Tiiis  human  living  multitude 
Was  savage,  cunning,  blind,  and  rude, 
F.M-  thou  wcrt  not:   but  o'er  the  populous  solitude, 
Ldv-e  one  lieiro  cloud  ov<.r  a  waste  of  waves, 
Hung  tyranny  :   beneatli,  sate  deiHinl 


The  sister-pest,  C(.iigi-eM;,tor  of  slaves; 
.1,1  ,•  I  .    . 

iii.i;ii;v,   oi   iit,i    pillions  WKle, 


40 


10 


f 


ODE   TO   LIHERTY 


ir>7 


Aimrclis  find  ]HMOsts,  who  feed  on  i^old  and  Mood, 
Till  with  tlie  stain  their  inmost  soids  arc  dyed,       II 
l)i(»ve  the  astonisliL'd  herds  of  nitin  troin  every  side. 


1 


20 


IV 

"  Tlie  noddinc:  promontories,  and  hlne  isles. 

And  cdoud-like  mountains,  and  dividiions  waves 
()t  (ireect!  basked  gh)rious  in  the  opiMi  smiles 

Of  favouring  heaven  :  from  tlu'ir  enchanted  caves 
Prophetic  echoes  flung  dim  melody  50 

On  the  unapprehensive  wild. 
The  vine,  the  corn,  the  olive  mild, 
(irew,  savage  yet,  to  human  use  unieconciled  ; 
And,  like  unfolded  flowers  beneath  the  sea, 

Like  the  nuin's  thouglitdark  iu  the  infant's  brain, 

Like  auglit  that  is  which  wraps  what  is  to  be,        riG 

Art's  deathless  dreams  lay  veiled  by  many  a  vein 

Of  Parian  stone:  and,  yet  a  s})eechless  child, 

Verse  muruuired,  and  Pliil(>soi)hy  did  strain 

Her  lidless  eves   for   thee:   when  o'er  the  ^ICgean 

main  GO 


"  Athens  arose:  a  city  such  as  vision 

Builds  from  the  ]»urple  crags  and  silver  towers 
Of  battlemented  cloud,  as  in  derision 

Of  kinji'liest  masonry  :  the  ocean-floors 
Pave  it ;  the  evening  sky  pavilions  it  ;  65 

Its  portals  arc  inhabited 
Hv  thunder-zoned  winds,  each  head 
\VithiM  its  cloudy  wings  with  sun-iire  garlanded, 
A  divine  work!     Atiiens  diviner  yet 

(ileanu'd  with  its  crest  of  columns,  on  the  will   70 
Of  man,  as  on  a  mount  of  diamond,  set: 
For  thou  wert,  and  tliinc  all-creative  skill 


1G8 


ODE  TO  UUEIiTY 


Ponplcil,  with  forms  that  mock  the  eternal  dead 
In  :ii;iibU'  immortality,  that  hill 
A\  liicii  was  thine  earliest  throne  and  latest  oraele. 


VI 


70 


SO 


-Sfj 


"  Within  tiie  snrface  of  Time's  fleetinj;  river 

Its  wrinkled  image  lies,  as  then  it  lay 
Immovahly  un(|uiet,  and  for  ever 

It  trend des,  but  it  eannot  pass  away  I 
The  voices  of  thy  bards  and  sages  thunder 
With  an  earth-awakening  blast 
Through  the  caverns  of  the  past ; 
lleligion  veils  her  eyes  ;   Oppression  sinks  aghast 
A  winged  sound  of  joy,  and  love,  and  wonder, 

Which  soars  where  expectation  never  flew. 
Rending  the  ve!i  of  space  and  time  asunder! 

One  ocean  feeds  the  clouds,  and  streams,  and  dew  ; 
One  sun  illumines  heaven ;  one  spirit  vast 

W  ith  life  and  love  makes  chaos  ever  new,  —        S9 
As  Athens  doth  the  world  with  thy  delight  renew. 

VII 

"  Then  Rome  was.  and  from  thy  dee]i  bosom  fairest, 

Like  a  wolf-cub  from  a  Cadma-an  M;iinad, 
She  drew  the  milk  of  greatness,  though  thy  dearest 

From  that  elysian  food  was  yet  unweaned ; 
And  many  a  deed  of  terrible  uprightness  95 

By  thy  sweet  love  was  sanctified  ; 
And  in  tliy  smile,  and  by  thy  side, 
Saintly  Camillus  lived,  and  firm  Atilius  died. 

But  when  teai-s  stained  thy  robe  of  vestal  whiteness, 
And  gold  profaned  thy  capitolian  throne,  loo 

Thou  didst  desert,  witli  spirit-winged  lightness, 
The  senate  of  the  tyrants:   they  suidc  prone 


kl 


ODE   TO   LIBEIiTY 


1G9 


Slaves  of  one  tyrant.     Palutinus  sighed 
Faint  of'hoes  of  Ionian  song:   that  tone 
Thon  diilst  dolay  to  hear,  lunicnting'  to  disown. 


105 


70 


SO 


95 


VIII 

"From  wliat  Ilyrcanian  glun  or  frozen  liill, 
Or  piny  promontory  of  the  Aretic  main, 
Or  ntmost  islet  inaceessible. 

Didst  thon  lament  the  rnin  of  thy  reign, 
Teaehing  the  woods  and  waves,  and  desert  roeks,    110 
And  every  Naiad's  iee-eold  nrn, 
To  talk  in  eehoes  sad  and  stern. 
Of  that  subliniest  loi'e  which  man  had  dared  nnlearn? 
For  neither  didst  thou  watch  the  wizard  Hoeks 
Of  the  Scald's   dreams,  nor   haunt   the  Druid's 
sleep.  11") 

What  if  the  tears  rained  through  thy  shattered  locks 
Were  quickly  dried?    for  thou  didst   groan,  not 
weep. 
When  from  its  sea  of  death  to  kill  and  burn, 
The  Galilean  serpent  forth  did  creep. 
And  made  thy  world  an  undistinguishable  heap. 

IX 

"A  thousand  years  tlie  Earth  cried,  AVhere  art  thou? 

And  then  the  sliadow  of  thy  connng  fell 
On  Saxon  Alfred's  olive-cinctured  brow: 

And  many  a  warrior-jieojiled  citadel. 
Like  rocks  whicli  fire  lifts  out  of  the  flat  deep,         125 
Arose  in  sacred  Italy, 
Frowning  o'er  the  tempestuous  sea 
Of  kings,   and  jniests,  and    slaves,  in   tower-crowned 
majesty  : 
That  multitudinous  anarchy  did  sweep 

And  burst  arounil  their  walls  like  idle  foam,    130 


I 


170 


OhK   TO   Lir.EnTY 


^\  InUt  fr.Mii  the  liiiiiiaii  spirit's  dcopr^st  dcop, 
Straii-c  niel.Mly  with  l..vu  and  awe  stni.^k  dmnl) 
I)i-..r]aiit   anus;   mid  Art.  wliicji  caniiot  die. 
U  itli  divine  wand  ti'accd  on  „ur  cartldy  liome 
I' It  imagery  to  p;ive  lieawirs  everl.tstiii""  do 


line. 


13-) 


X 


110 


"Tliou  liiuitress  swifter  tiian  tlie  Moon!   tlioii  terror 

Of  tli<.  world's  wolves!  ihoii  l)oarer  of  the  (piiver, 

Wliose  smdike  shafts  pieree  tenipest-win-^ed  Error,' 

As  light  may  pieree  the  clouds  \\\wn  they  dissever 

In  the  calm  regions  of  the  orient  day  I 

Luther  caught  thy  wakening  glance: 
Like  lightning  from  his  leaden  laiiee 
Ivetleeted,  it  dissolved  the  visions  of  the  trance 
In  which,  as  in  a  tonil),  the  nations  lav; 

And    Kngland's    prophets    hailed   thee    as    their 
(]ueeii. 
In  songs  whose  niusie  cannot  ])ass  awav, 
Though  it  must  flow  for  ever:  not  unseen 
Before  the  spii-it-sighted  countenance 

Of  Milton  didst  thou  ])ass,  from  the  sad  scene      119 
Jieyond  whose  night  he  saw,  with  a  dejected  mien. 


144 


XI 


"Tile  eager  hours  and  unreluctant  years 

As  on  a  dawn-illumined  mountain  stood, 
Trampling  to  silence  their  loud  hopes  and  fears, 

Daikening  each  other  with  their  multitude. 
And  erird  aloud.  Lihertv  !   Lidignation 
Answered  Pity  from  her  cave  : 
Death  grew  ])ale  within  the  grave. 

And    I  )e-;iiliti.in    Il/l^,•L,,l    i-..   .1.,    .1     .i... ^^        „t 

U  hen,  like  h.'aven's  sun  girt  liy  the  exhalation 


IfjS 


ODK   TO   LIllEnTY 


171 


Of  its  own  f^lorioiis  lii;lit,  llioii  didst  arise,         IC.u 
riiasini;-  tliy  foes  from  natioti  unto  nation 

Like  shadows:   as  if  day  liad  cloven  the  skies 
At  dii'aniiny  midnight  o't-r  tiie  western  wave, 
Mm  stalled,  srai;;;crin^'  with  a  ^hid  stii'prise, 
Tnder  the  lightnings  of  thine  unfamiliar  eyes.     If..') 

XII 
"Thou  heaven   of  uarth  !    what  spells  could  pall  thco 

tlu'U, 

In  ominous  eclipse?  A  thousand  years, 
Ured  from  the  slime  of  deep  oppression's  den, 

Dyed  all  thy  liipiid  light  with  blood  and  tears, 
Till  thy  sweet  stars  could  weep  the  stain  away;       170 
ilow  like  IJacchanals  of  blood, 
Kound  France,  the  ghastly  vintage,  stood 
Destruction's  scej)tred  slaves,and  Folly's  mitred  brood! 
When  one.  like  them,  but  migiitier  far  than  they. 

The  Anarch  of  thine  own  bewildered  powers,  175 
Kose  :  armies  mingled  in  obscure  array. 

Like   clouds  with  clouds,  darkening    the  sacred 
bowers 
Of  serene  heaven.     He.  by  the  past  pursued, 
J^ests  with  those  dead  but  unforgotten  hours, 
Whose  ghosts  scare  victor  kings  in  their  ancestral 
towers.  isu 


XIII 

'•  Kngland  yet  sleeps  :   was  she  not  called  of  old  ? 

Spain  calls  hei'  now,  as  with  its  thrilling  thunder 
Vesuvius  wakens  .  Ikna.  and  the  cold 

Snow-ciags  by  its  re{)ly  are  cloven  in  sunder: 
V '■  or  tiio  iir  vvriVfi  l-vciv   xi>oii;iii  isie  i^j 

I'rom  Pithecnsa  to  Felorus 
Howls,  and  leaps,  and  glaies  in  chorus: 


»  ! 


!' 


172  ODK   TO    LIIiEUTY 

They  cry,    I'o   (iiiii,   ye  huiiiis    of    lieavon    suspoiuU-d 
o'er  us  ! 
Ill  r  I'liaiiis  ;irc  threads  of  i^olil,  slic  need  hut  smile 
And   thry    diss(»lvi' ;    l)iit    Spain's    were    links  of 
stt.'el. 
Till  l»it  to  (hist  hy  virtue's  keenest  file.  101 

Twins  of  a  single  dtjstiny  !  appeal 
To  the  eternal  yi'ars  enthroncnl  before  us, 
In  tiie  dim  West,  impi'ess  us  from  a  seal, 
All  ye  iiave   thought  and   done!   Time  cannot  dare 
conceal.  ];),-, 


XIV 


"Tond)  of  ArminiusI   render  up  thy  dead, 

Till,  like  a  standard  from  a  watcii-tower's  staff, 
Ilis  soul  may  stream  over  the  tyrant's  head  I 

Thy  victory  shall  be  his  epitaph  ! 
AVild  i»acchanal  of  truth's  mysterious  wine,  200 

King-deluded  Germany, 
Ilis  dead  spirit  lives  in  thee. 
Why  do  we  fear  or  ho])e  ?  thou  art  already  free  ! 
And  thou,  lost  paradise  of  this  divine 

And  glorious  world  I  thou  flowery  wilderness  !  205 
Thou  island  of  eternity  !    thou  shrine 

Where  desolation,  clothed  witli  loveliness. 
Worships  the  thing  thou  wert  I  O  Italv, 

(lather  tiiy  blood  into  thy  heart:   repress  209 

The  beasts  who  make  their  dens  thy  sacred  })alaces  ! 


XV 


"O  that  the  fr(>e  would  stamp  the  impious  name 
Of  King  into  the  dust  ;  or  write  it  there. 

Oil... 

DO  rii.ir  tins  hioL  upon  tiu;  paL;e  oi  fame 

W  ere  as  a  serpent's  path,  which  the  light  air 


OUK   TO   LlliFUTY 


191 


200 


205 


200 
aces !        y 


173 
215 


l-lr;is('s.  and  tlie  fiat  sands  close  heliiiid  ! 
Vc  tlie  orai'le  have  Iicai'd  : 
Lift  the  vi('t(>i-y-fl;isliini,f  sword. 
And  cut  tlic  snaky  knots  of  tliis  foid  ;;i)i'dian  word, 
Wliicli.  wenk  itself  as  stiihltle.  yet  can  hind 

Into  a  mass,  irn'fr:iL:ahly  (inn  220 

The  axes  and  the  rods  which  awi;  mankind  ; 
The  sound  has  ])oisoi\  in  it;   'tis  the  sperm 
Of  what  makes  life  foul,  caidverous.  and  alihorred  ; 
Disdain  not  thou,  at  thine  aiipoiutcd  term,  22t 

To  set  thine  armed  heel  on  this  reluctant  worm. 

XVI 

"O  that  the  wise  from  tiuir  hri^ht  minds  would  klndlo 

Such  lamps  within  the  dome  of  this  dim  woi'ld. 
That    the   ])ale   name    of   PiilKsx    might    shrink    and 
dwindle 
Into  the  hell  from  which  it  iirst  was  hurled, 
A  scofT  of  impious  j)ride  from  fiends  imjmre  ;  230 

Till  luiman  thoughts  miL;ht  kneel  alone, 
Each  before  the  judgment-throne 
Of  Its  own  aweless  soul,  or  of  the  ])()wer  niduiown  ! 
O  that  the  words  which  make  the  thoughts  obscure 
From  which  they  spring,  as  clouds  of  glimmerinj^ 
dew  ■    2:5-, 

Fi-om  a  wliite  hi'  c  Mot  heaven's  Mue  pf)i'traittire. 
W.  re    stri|)t  of    their    thin    masks   and     various 
hue. 
And  frowns  and  smiles  and  s))lendours  not  their  own, 
Till  in  th<'  nakedness  of  false  and  tiaie 
They  stand  before  their  Lord,  each  to  receive  its 


iil* 


i( 


due ! 


240 


174 


i>!>i:    To   LUiKlUY 


\\\l 


"  III-  ulio  t.'iiiglit  in;in  to  vaiKiuish  whatsoever 

Can  '.>:  '»t't\veeii  tlit>  rradlc  and  the  "-lavt'. 
CiowiitMi  iiiiii  tilt'  K'wvj^  of  Life.    ()  vain  iMulcavour ! 

It  oil  Ills  owii  liii^li  will,  a  wjlliiio-  slave,  ju 

lie  has  eiithroiiL'd  the  oppression  and  tlie  oppressor! 
\Vhat  if  earth  can  eiotlR;  and  feed 
Aii.plest  millions  at  their  neeil, 
And  power  in  thon^ht  he  as  the  tree  within  the  seed  ? 
Or  what  if  Art,  an  ardent  intercessor. 

Driving;  on  iiery  wiiij,r.s  to  Natures  throne,        2.")() 
Checks  the  i;reat  mother  stooping  to  caress  her, 
And  cries,  (iive  nie,  thy  child,  dominion 
Over  all  hei-ht  and  depth  !    if  Life  can  hreed 

New    wants,  ami   wealth   from  those    who  toil  and 

'^nvAw,  j.v, 

lieiid,  of   thy  i;ifts   and    hers,  a   thousandfold    for 


one 


XVIII 

"  Come  thou,  hut  lead  out  of  the  inmost  cave 

Of  man's  deep  spirit,  as  the  morning-stur 
l>i'ek()iis  the  sun  from  the  Loan  wave, 

^^  isdom.    I  hear  the  j)ennons  of  her  car 
Self-movinii',  lil^c  cloud  charioted  by  flame  ;  liOU 

Comes  she  not,  and  come  ye  not, 
Kulers  of  eternal  thought, 
T(^    judge    with    solemn    truth    life's    ill-apportioned 
lot,  — 
r>lind  Love,  and  ecpial  Justice,  and  the  Fame 

Of  what  has  heeii,  th.'  1  lope  of  what  will  he  ?       2{'ui 
O,  Liheity!   if  such  could  he  thy  name 

>\  ert    thou    disioiiied    fruin    tlii'se.    (>••    thev    fr;ii!! 
thee  ; 


Till:    .SA.V>//71  A    ILA.M 


175 


'i{ 


.'GU 


¥ 


1 


If  tliiiio  or  tlu'irs  wen;  trcusiirc^  to  be  boiiu'lit 
1)V  l)l()i)(l  (»r  toars,  liavc  not  the  \sise  ami  fn-o 
Wept  tears,  and   hlood   like  tears'"  —  The  solemn 


harmony 


XIX 


l*;msetl.  and  the  spirit  of  that  mighty  singing 

To  its  al)yss  was  suddenly  withdrawn  : 
riien  as  a  wild  swan,  when  suhlimely  win^ini; 

Its  path  athwart  the  thnnder-sinoke  of  dawn. 
Sinks  iieadlon;^  thn)UL,di  the  aiirial  golden  light        -7.') 
On  the  heavy-sounding  ])lain. 
When  the  holt  has  j»iei(;ed  its  hiain  : 
As  summer  clouds  dissolve,  unburdened  of  their  rain; 
As  a  far  taper  fades  witli  fading  night; 

As  a  bi'ief  insect  dies  with  dying  day,  —  -SU 

Mv  sonir.  its  i)inions  disarrayed  of  nii<,dit. 
Drooped  ;  o'er  it  closed  the  echoes  far  away 
Of  the  jrreat  voice  which  did  its  flight  sustain, 
As  waves  which  lately  paved  his  watery  way 
Hiss  round  a  drowner's  head  in  their  tempestuous 
play.  285 

1.S20. 

THE  sENsrrivp:  i'lant 

I'VRT    I 

A  Sensitive  Plant  in  a  garden  grew, 
And  the  young  winds  fed  it  with  silver  dew, 
And  it     pened  its  fan-like  leaves  to  the  light, 
And  closed  tliem  beneath  the  kisses  of  night. 


,1' 

Ml 


it 


And  the  Snvln'j  .irosft  on  tlie  jifarden  fair. 
Like  the  Spirit  uf  Love  felt  everywhere  ; 


'  ^  I 


170 


T//A-  SKSSITIVK   I'l.A.ST 


Ami  v.u-h  flower  ami  licil)  on  cartirs  dark  breast 
Kosf  tnnii  tin-  (Ir.aiiis  of  its  wint:      rest. 

I'>iit  noiu!  ever  tr.'iiiMcd  and  pantrd  with  bliss 

In  till'  ■^^•^■drn,  tli.-  11.  id.  <m-  tlic  wild.rncvs,  m 

Like    a    doi'    in    the    noontide    with     love's     sweet 

want, 
As  the  coMipanic.nless  Sensitive  Tlant. 

The  snowdrop,  and  then  the  violet, 

Aros.'  from  tiie  ^'roimd  witii  warm  rain  wet,  11 

And    their    liiiath    was    mixed    with    fresh    odour, 

sent 
From  the  tuif,  like  the  voiet;  ant,"  the  instrument. 

Ihen  the  pied  wind-Howers  and  the  tulip  tall, 

And  nareissi,  the  fainst  amon«;-  them  all, 

"\\  ho  .;azf  on  their  eyes  in  the  stream's  recess 

Till  they  dit;  of  their  own  dear  loveliness,  20 

And  the  Naiad  like  lily  of  the  vale, 
^\  horn  youth  malces  so  fair  and  jiassion  so  })ale. 
That  the  liu:ht  of  its  tremulous  ludls  is  seen 
Thro'ii;)!  their  pavilicms  of  tender  «M-een  : 

And  the  hyacinth,  puride,  and  white,  and  l.luc,     2.5 
Whirl)  tlunu-  <!•  .m  its  hflls  a  sweet  ])eal  anew 
(H  tmi>ic  so  <l(dicate.  '^oft-.  and  intense. 
It  was  felt  like  an  odour  within  the  sense  ; 

And  the  rose  like  a  nymph  to  the  hath  addrest,     29 
AVhieh  unveiled  the  dej)th  of  her  -flowing  breast, 
I  ill,  told  after  fohl,  to  the  faint!!!"  :'.!r 
The  soul  of  her  beauty  and  love  lay  bare  ; 


TiiF  si:\smvK  ri..\.\T 


A\u\  tin-  waiul-likf  lily,  w'sicli  liftnl  iij), 
A'-  .1  M;i'ii;ul,  it--  iini(»iiliL;lit-('nloiiit(l  ciii), 
'1  ill  tiir  licrv  star,  uliicli  i>  its  t'\i', 
(i;i/'(l  tliniiiyli  clear  dfw  on  ilie  tfiidrr  sky; 


177 


35 


Ami  the  jessriiniiic  faint,  aiul  tlic  sweet  tuberose  — 

riic  sweetest  flower  tor  >('eiit  that  Mows  — 

Aii'l  all  lare  blossoms  from  every  <  lime, 

(irew  ill  that  ganlun  in  ptri'cet  prime.  40 

And  on  the  stream  wliose  inconstant  l)osotn 
\\  as  prankt,  under  houghs  of  eud)owerin;j;  hlossom, 
\Vitli  ;;dlden  and  <,Mceii  li.t;ht,  slant ini;  tlirouj^h 
Their  heav'      of  many  a  tangled  hue, 


'  n 


20 


i>road  waterdilies  lay  ti-enmloiisly,  45 

And  starry  river-hiids  glinimcri'd  by. 

And    ai-oniid    them    the    soft    stream    did    glide    and 

dance 
With  a  motion  of  sweet  sound  and  rivdiance. 


And  the  sinuous  jjaths  of  lawn  and  of  moss, 
Which  led  through  the  garden  along  and  across,       50 
Some  oi)eu  at  once  to  the  sun  and  the  breeze, 
Some  lost  among  bowers  of  bk)ssoming  trees, 

"Were  all  ]»aved  with  daisies  and  dedicate  bells, 

As  fair  as  the  fantous  asphodels, 

And  How'rets  which,  droojiing  as  day  droo])ed  too,    ."),") 

IVU  into  ])avilions,  white,  ]nir]do.  ai   ]  blue. 

To  roof  the  glow-worm  from  the  evening  dew. 


And  from  this  undetiieci  i'aradiso 

T)ie  flowers  (as  an  infant's  awakening  eyes 


Ti 


178 


THE  SENSITIVE  PLANT 


t 


!     1 


!  : 


i! 


Smile  on  its  mother,  wliose  sinq;ino;  sweet  60 

Ciin  first  lull,  iind  at  last  must  awaken  it), 

AVIicii  Ilcaveirs  l)]itlie  winds  liad  unfolded  them 

.\s  mine-lamps  enkindle  a  hidden  i^em. 

Shone  smilini;'  to  lli-aven.  and  every  one 

Sliare<l  joy  in  the  light  of  the  gentle  sun  ;  65 

For  each  one  was  interpenetrated 
AVith  the  light  ami  the  odour  its  neighbour  shed, 
Like  young  lovers  whom  youth  and  love  make  dear 
AVrapt  and  tilled  by  thtiv  nuitual  atm()sj)here. 

But   the    Sensitive    Plant,    which    eeuld    give    small 
fruit  70 

Of  the  love  which  it  felt  from  the  leaf  to  the  root, 
Iveceived  more  than  all,  it  loved  more  than  ever, 
Where  none  wanted  but  it,  could  belong  to  the  giver; 


For  the  Sensitive  Plant  has  no  bright  f^  nver: 
Kadiance  and  odour  are  not  its  dower;  75 

It  loves,  even  like'  Love,  its  deep  heart  is  full ; 
It  desires  what  it  has  not,  the  Beautiful ! 

The  light  winds,  which  from  unsustaining  wings 
Siied  the  music  of  many  murmeriuijs  : 
The  beams  which  d.nt  from  many  a  st^r  80 

Of  the  tl;)wers  whose  hues  they  bear  afar ; 

The  plumed  insects  swift  aiul  free. 

Like  golden  boats  on  a  sunny  sea. 

Laden  with  light  and  odour,  which  pass 

Over  the  gleam  of  the  living  grass ;  85 


THE  SENSITIVE  PLANT  179 

Tlio  nnsoon  elands  of  tlio  dew,  wliicli  lio 
Like  iiio  in  the  ilowers  till  the  sun  rides  lii^li, 
'llicn  wiindt'i-  like  spirits  ainoni^-  the  s])h(M-('S, 
l".:i('h  cloud  faint  with  th(!  fr:i"r:uu,'e  it  hears; 


111 


The  (luivrriiHj^  va])onrs  oi  dim  noontide, 
"Which  like  :i  sea  o'er  tlie  warm  earth  Ljlide, 
111  wliich  every  sound,  and  odour,  and  heam, 
Move,  as  reeds  in  a  single  stream  ;  — 


90 


Each  and  all  like  ministering;  angels  were 

For  the  Sensitiv('  Plant  sweet  joy  to  hear,  95 

AVhilst  tlie  lagging  Iiours  of  tlie  day  went  by 

Like  windless  elouds  o'er  a  tender  sky. 

And  when  ;jvening  descended  from  Heaven  above, 
And  the  Earth  was  all  rest,  and  the  air  was  all  h>ve, 
\nd  delight,  though  less  bright,  was  far  more  deep, 
.vnd  the  day's  veil  fell  from  the  world  of  sleep,       lUl 

And  the  beasts,  and  the  birds,  and  the  insects  were 

drowned 
In  an  oeean  of  dreams  withont  a  sound, 
"Whose  waves  never  mark,  though  they  eve'-  impress 
The  light  sand  whieh  ])ave3  it,  eonsciousness ;  10"> 

(Oidy  overhead  the  sweet  nightingale 

I'.ver  sang  more  sweet  as  the  day  might  fail. 

And  snatches  of  its  Elysian  chant 

AVere  mixed  with  the  dreams  of  the  Sensitive  Plant.) 


The  Sensitive  Plant  was  the  earliest 
r])gathered  into  the  bosom  of  rest: 


110 


^V  aWeut  eiiiiii  Vi'eary  ui  ii.i 


/ 


fl 


i  I 

1  I 
!  ( 


(II 


180 


THE  sEysrnvE  plant 


The  feeblest  and  yet  the  favourite, 
Cradlud  witliin  the  embrace  of  night. 

I'AUT    II 

There  was  a  Towmm-  in  tliis  sweet  jilaee,  IIS 

An  Kve  in  tliis  Edt- ii  ;  a  ruUn<;-  ^ract; 
^Vliich  to  the  Howcrs,  did  they  waken  or  (h'eani, 
AVas  as  God  is  to  the  starry  scheme  : 

A  Lady,  the  wonder  of  her  kind, 

"Whose  form  was  upborne  by  a  lovely  mind,  120 

AVhich,  dilatin;:^,  had  moulded  her  mien  and  motion 
Like  a  sea-flower  unfolded  beneath  the  ocean, 


II 


Tended  the  jjardeii  from  morn  to  even : 

And  the  meteors  of  that  sublunar  heaven, 

Ijike  tli(!  lamps  of  the  air  when  nioht  walks  forth,  125 

Laughed  round  her  footsteps  up  from  the  Earth ! 

She  had  no  companion  of  mortal  race, 

]?ut  her  tremulous  breath  and  her  flushing  face 

Told,    whilst    the    morn    kissed    the    sleep   from    her 

eyes. 
That  her  dreams  were  less  shuuber  than  Paradise  :  130 


As  if  some  bright  Spirit  for  her  sweet  sake 

1  lad  deserted  heaven  while  the  stars  were  awake. 

As  if  yet  around  her  he  lingering  were, 

Tliough  the  veil  of  daylight  concealed  him  from  her. 


ller  step  seemed  to  i)ity  the  grasr>  it  juest; 
You  might  hear,  by  the  heaving  of  her  breast. 
That  the  coming  and  going  of  the  wiml 
Brought  pleasure  tliere,  and  left  passion  behind. 


135 


\'\ 


THE  SENSITIVE   PLANT 


181 


And  wherever  lier  airy  footstep  trod, 

IKr  trailiiifj  hair  from  the  f;:russy  sod  140 

Krast'd  its  li,L;lit  vestij,^',  with  shadowy  sweep, 

Like  a  sunny  storm  o'er  the  dark  green  deep. 

I  doubt  not  tlie  Howers  of  that  garden  sweet 
Kfjoieed  in  the  sound  of  her  gentle  feet; 
I  »ioid)t  not  tliey  fidt  the  spirit  that  came  145 

From  her  growing  fingers  through  all  their  frame. 


She  sprinkled  hright  water  from  the  stream 
On  those  that  were  faint  with  the  sunny  beam; 
And  out  of  the  cups  of  the  heavy  flowers 
She  emptied  the  rain  of  the  thunder-showers. 


150 


155 


She  lifted  their  heads  with  her  tender  hands, 
And  sustained  them  with,  rods  and  osier  bands; 
If  the  flowers  had  been  her  own  infants,  she 
Could  never  have  nursed  them  more  tenderly. 

And  all  killing  insects  and  gnawing  worms, 
And  things  of  obscene  and  unlovely  forms, 
She  bore  in  a  basket  of  Indian  woof. 
Into  the  rough  woods  far  aloof,  — 

In  a  ])asket,  of  grasses  and  wild  flowers  full, 
The  freshest  her  gentle  hands  .  ould  i)ull 
For  the  poor  banished  insects,  whose  intent, 
Althousxh  thev  did  ill,  was  innocent. 


But  the  bee.  and  the  beamlikc  ("iihemcris 

Whose  path  is  the  light-.ing's.  and  soft  moths  that  kiss 

The  sweet  lips  of  the  flowers,  and  harm  not.  did  she 
....  T       ,  11  1  r.a 

Make  iier  aLu-ini.uii  angt-i.^    nr. 


160 


il 


/ 


li 


I! 
II 


182 


THE  SE.\SJTnL-  I'LANT 


And  iiiuiiy  uii  antenatal  tomb, 

AN  here  hutttTtlies  dn-ain  of  the  life  to  come, 

She  li'ft  clinnini;'  ronnd  the  .sniot>th  antl  dark 

Edge  of  tlie  odorous  cechir  bark.  170 

Tlii.s  faiii'st  creature  from  earliest  spi'ing 
Tims  moved  through  the  garden  miinsteriiig 
All  the  sweet  season  of  summer  tide, 
And  ere  the  first  leaf  Ljoked  brown  —  she  died  ! 

r.WT  III 

Three  days  the  flowers  ol    Jie  garden  fair,  175 

Lik(^  stars  when  the  moon  is  awakened,  were, 

Or  the  waves  of  Uaia-.  ere  luminous 

She  Hoats  up  through  the  smoke  of  Vesuvius. 

Ami  on  the  fourth,  the  Sensitive  Plant 

Felt  the  sound     f  the  fum-ral  chant,  ISO 

And  the  steps  of  tlic  boareis,  heavy  and  slow, 

And  the  sobs  of  the  mourners,  deep  and  low  ; 

The  weary  sound  and  the  heavy  breath. 

And  the  silent  motions  of  })assing  death, 

And  the  smell,  (.-old,  opjjressive,  and  dank,  186 

Sent  through  the  pores  of  the  colHn  plank. 

The  dark  grass,  and  the  flowers  among  the  grass, 
AVere  bright  with  tears  as  the  crowd  did  pass; 
I'rom  their  siglis  the  wind  caught  a  mournful  tone, 
And  sate  in  the  [»ines,  and  gave  groan  for  groan.    lUO 

Tlie  gai'dcn,  once  fai;,  became  cold  and  foul, 
I-ilvr  the  roi'|)se  of  Ik  i'  who  liad  been  its  .-.oul  : 
\\  hicli  at  tir^t  was  lovely  as  if  in  sleep, 


THE  SENSITIVE   I'LAST 


183 


170 


175 


Then  slowly  changed,  till  it  grew  ;i  heui) 

To  make  men  tremble  who  never  weep.  1''5 

Swift  summer  into  the  autunni  flowed, 
And  frost  in  the  mist  of  the  morning  rode. 
Though  the  noonday  sun  looked  clear  and  bright, 
Mocking  the  spoil  of  the  secret  night. 

The  rose-leaves,  like  flakes  of  crimson  snow,  2l)U 

I'aved  the  turf  and  the  moss  below. 
The  lilies  were  droo|)ing,  and  white,  and  wan, 
Like  the  head  and  the  skin  of  a  dying  man. 

And  Indian  plants,  of  scent  and  hue 

The  sweetest  that  ever  were  fed  on  dew,  liU5 

Leaf  after  leaf,  day  after  day. 

Were  massed  into  the  connnon  clay. 


IcSO 


185 


I'JO 


And  the  leaves,  brown,  yellow,  and  gray,  and  red, 
And  white  with  the  whiteness  of  what  is  dead, 
Like  troops  of  ghosts  on  the  dry  wind  i)ast ;  JIO 

Their  whistling  imise  made  the  birds  aghast. 

And  the  gusty  winds  waked  the  winged  seeds 

( )ut  of  their  birthi)lace  of  ugly  weeds. 

Till  they  clung  round  many  a  sweet  flower's  stem, 

Which  rotted  into  the  earth  with  them.  -15 

The  water-blooms  nnder  the  rivulet 
Fell  from  the  stalks  on  which  they  were  set, 
And  the  I'ddlcs  dr>ve  them  here  and  there. 
As  the  winds  did  Uiose  of  the  upper  air. 

Then  the  rain  came  down,  and  the  bi-oken  stalks     2_M) 
Were  bent  and  tangled  across  tiie  walks; 


ii'l 


/' 


1* 


184 


THE  SEysiTlVK   I'LAXT 


And  till-  ItaMoss  lu'twork  of  parasite  bowers 
Massed  into  ruin,  and  all  sweet  flowers. 

Pirtween  tlio  time  of  the  wind  and  tlie  snow, 
All  loatldit'st  weeds  l)e,ij;an  to  grow,  225 

Whose  e.tarse  leaves  were  splashed  with  many  a  speck, 
Like  the  water-snake's  helly  and  the  toad's  back. 

And  thistles,  and  nettles,  and  darnids  rank, 
And  the  doek,  and  lienliane,  and  liendoek  dank, 
Stretehed  out  its  lonjjj  and  hollow  shank,  230 

And  stifled  the  air  till  the  dead  wind  stank. 


And  plants,  at  whose  names  the  verse  feels  loath, 
Filled  the  jdaee  with  a  monstrous  undergrowth, 
Prickly,  and  pulpous,  and  blistering,  and  l)lue. 
Livid,  and  starred  with  a  lurid  dew. 

And  a"-arics  aiul  fungi,  with  mildew  and  mould. 
Started  like  mist  from  the  wet  ground  ('(dd  : 
Pale,  fleshy,  as  if  the  decaying  dead 
With  a  sjiirit  of  growth  had  been  animated! 

Tiieir  moss  rotted  off  them,  flake  by  flake. 
Till  the  thick  stalk  stuck  like  a  nnirderer's  stake, 
Where  rags  of  li>ose  flesh  yet  tremble  on  high, 
Lifecting  the  winds  that  wander  by. 


235 


24C 


Spawn,  weeds,  and  tilth,  a  lejirous  scum, 

]\Iade  the  running  rivulet  thick  and  dumb. 

And  at  its  outlet,  flags  huge  as  stakes 

Dammed  it  up  with  roots  knotted  like  water-snakes. 

j\.,!]  I.-)!!!'  bv  I'.our.  wlien.  the  air  was  still. 
The  v;i])onrs  arose  whicli  have  strength  to  kill: 


245 


THE   SESSITIVE   I'LANT 


185 


215 


At  morn  they  wore  seen,  at  noon  they  were  felt,      250 
At  night  they  were  darkness  no  star  could  melt. 


A  11(1  tinotuous  meteors  from  spray  to  spray 
Cn-pt  und  flitted  in  broad  noonday 
I'liseen;  every  branch  on  which  tlu-y  alit 
IJv  a  venomous  l)li<rlit  was  burned  and  bit. 


The  Sensitive  Plant,  like  one  forbid, 
Wept,  and  the  t<'ars  within  each  lid 
Of  its  folded  leuves  which  touether  grew, 
Were  changed  to  a  blight  of  frozen  glue. 

For  the  leaves  soon  fell,  and  the  branches  soon 
By  the  heavy  axe  of  the  blast  were  hewn  ; 
The  sap  shrank  to  the  root  through  every  pore. 
As  blood  to  a  heart  that  will  beat  no  more. 

For  Winter  eanie  :  The  wind  was  his  whip  ; 
One  eh()i)py  fingcu-  was  on  his  lip  ; 
He  had  torn  the  cataracts  from  tli'!  hills. 
And  they  clanked  at  his  girdle  like  manacles; 

His  breath  was  a  chain  which  without  a  sound 
The  earth,  and  the  air,  an('  'he  water  liound ; 
He  came,  fiercely  driven  in  his  chariot-throne 
Bv  the  tenfold  blasts  of  the  Arctic  zone. 


255 


2G0 


2G5 


270 


Tlien  the  weeds  which  were  forms  of  living  death 

Fled  from  the  frost  to  tin;  ("arth  beneath  ; 

Their  dccav  ;uid  sudden  fliglitfrom  fiost 

Was  but  like  tlie  vanishing  of  a  ghost  I  275 

And  under  tlie  roots  of  the  Sensitive  Plant 
The  moles  and  tiie  dormici;  died  for  want: 


k 


isr. 


THE  SKXSITIVK   rLA.XT 


The  Mnls  (lroj)j)e(l  stiff  from  the  frozen  air. 

And  were  caui:ht  in  tlit;  l)r:in(lies  nuked  and  bare. 


i  i 


I! 


First  there  oaine  (h)wn  a  tliawini;  lain  2S0 

And  its  didl  dr()|)s  froze  on  thr  houghs  again  ; 
Then  there  steanu;d  n\)  a  frrrzing  dew 
"Which  to  the  drops  of  tlie  tliaw-rain  i;re\v  ; 

And  a  northmn  whirlwind,  wanderini,'  ahont 
Like  a  wolf  that  had  smelt  a  (lead  eliild  out,  '2sr> 

Shook  the  houghs,  tlnis  laden,  and  heavy  and  stilY, 
And  snapped  them  olf  with  his  rigid  gritf. 

When  winter  had  gone  and  spring  eanie  baek. 
The  Sensitive  Plant  was  a  leafless  wreck  ; 
But  the  mandrakes,  and   toadstools,  and  docks,   and 
darnels,  290 

Rose  like  the  dead  from  their  ruined  charnels. 

(  ()N(  I.CSION 

"Whether  the  Sensitive  Plant,  or  that 

Which  within  its  houghs  like  a  spirit  sat 

Ere  its  outward  form  had  known  decay, 

Now  felt  this  change,  I  cannot  say.  295 


Whether  that  lady's  gentle  mind, 
No  lonu'er  with  the  form  comhined 
Which  scattered  love,  as  stars  do  light, 
Found  sadness,  where  it  left  delight, 

I  dare  not  guess ;  but  in  this  life 
Of  error,  ignornTice,  aTid  stiife, 
AVhere  noiinng  is.  iuit  all  tilings  ^eeui, 
And  We  the  .-.hadows  of  the  dream, 


300 


IiinCE   FOli    THE    YKAIi 


187 


It  is  a  niDili'st  creed,  and  vet 


•J8() 


•js." 


and 


205 


1*1 


easan 


t,  if 


one  ('(insiders  it 


ao.': 


300 


To  own  that  deatli  itself  nnist  be, 
Like  all  the  res.,  a  mockery. 

That  jjarden  s\vtH;t,  that  lady  fair, 

And  all  sweet  shapes  and  odours  there, 

In  truth  havt!  never  past  away  :  31 U 

'T  is  we,   t  is  ours,  are  changed  ;  not  they. 

For  love,  and  beauty,  and  delight, 

There  is  no  death  nor  chan^-e  :  their  nii;iht 

Exceeds  our  organs,  which  endure 

No  light,  being  themselves  obscure.  315 

1S20. 


DIRGE   FOR  THE   YEAR 

Okphax  hours,  the  year  is  dead. 

Come  and  sigh,  come  and  weep  I 
Merry  hours,  smile  instead, 

For  the  year  is  but  asleep : 
See,  it  smiles  as  it  is  sleeping,  6 

Mocking  your  untimely  weeping. 

As  an  eartlupiake  rocks  a  corse 

In  its  coffin  in  the  clay. 
So  white  Winter,  that  rough  nurse, 

Kocks  the  death-cold  year  to-day  ;  10 

Solemn  hours  I  wail  aloud 
For  vour  mother  in  her  shroud. 


i\S   iin,'    Willi   .111    sUl.-i  itini   nVV.iy'S 

The  tree-swuu"-  cradle  of  a  child. 


n 


188  TO  yi(;iir 

So  tlic  breath  of  tliosL'  ruiU-  ilays 
Rocks  tilt;  year:  —  Ix   caliii  an 
Trciiihling  lioiiis  ;  slii;  will  ari  o 
With  new  love  witliiii  her  eyes. 


mild, 


Jamiary  j;rny  i^  here. 

Likt;  a  sexton  l»y  liei-  ;;i'ave  ; 
Fi'hiiiary  heais  the  liier, 

March  witli  jjrief  doth  howl  and  rave, 
And  April  weeps — -h    t,  ()  \     hoiub  . 
Follow  with  May's  fairest  tlou  jrs. 

January  1,  1821. 


15 


20 


, 


TO  NIGHT 

Swirri.Y  waHv  over  the  western  wave, 

Si)irit  I  '"  Nii^ht ' 
Ont  of  the  misty  >  astern  cave, 
AVhere  all  the  Ion;;  and  lone  daylicjht 
Thou  wovcst  dreams  of  joy  and  fe.tr, 
Which  make  thee  teriiole  and  dear, — 

Swift  be  thy  flight ! 

Wrap  thy  form  in  a  mantle  gray, 

Star-inwroiight ! 
lilind  with  thine  hair  the  eyes  of  Day, 
Kiss  her  until  she  be  wearied  ont, 
Then  wander  o'er  city,  and  sea,  and  land, 
Touching  all  with  thine  opiate  wand  — 

Come,  long-souiiht ! 


10 


Wild!  I  arose  ami  saw  the  dawi,.  15 

I  sigiied  tor  thee  ; 
When  light  roilr  high,  and  the  dew  was  gone, 


snyxKT  TO  in'noy 


189 


And  noon  lay  lit'avy  on  flower  rniil  tree, 
And  the  weaiv  Hav  turned  to  liis  lest, 


I 


jin<rerin'r 


<e  an  nnloveii  <r 


HI 
I  si"liod  for  thee 


uest. 


20 


Thy  l>iotli('i'  I>rath  came,  and  cried: 

W Ouldsf  thou  me  ? 
Thy  sweet  child  Sleep,  the  filmy-eyed, 
Murmuied  lik«'  a  noontidt;  liee: 
Shall  I  nestle  near  thy  side? 
Wouldst  thou  nie? — And  I  replied: 

No,  not  thee  I 


•25 


Death  will  come  when  thou  art  dead, 

Soon,  too  soon  —  30 

Sleej)  will  come  when  thou  art  fled  ; 

Oi  neither  would  I  ask  the  boon 

T  ask  of  thee,  beloved  Ni^ht  — 

Swift  lie  thine  approaehin<;-  flight. 

Come  soon,  soon  !  35 

1821. 


10 


15 
gone, 


SONNET   TO    BYRON 

[1    VM  nfraid  these  verses  will  not  please  you,  but] 
If  I  esteemed  you  less.  Envy  would  kill 

Pleasure,  and  leave  to  Wonder  and  Despair 
The  ministration  of  the  thoughts  that  fill 

The  mind  which,  like  a  worm  whose  life  v  -\y  share 
A  ])ortion  of  the  unapproachal>l<',  ^ 

Marks  your  creations  ri-^e  as  t;ist  and  fair 
As  ])erfect  worlds  at  the  Creator's  will. 


»L      .■^lil/il      !.■»      IIIV        It    ^« 


To  soar  above  the  heights  where  others  [climb]. 


/ 


II 


I 


'T 


ij 


i'  I 


190 


TO  Emilia   r/r/.i.v/ 


Nor  f;imi',  tliat  .sliaUow  nf  tlic  imhoiii  lioiir  10 

Cast  tiDiii  tli(>  otivioiis  fiitiiir  on  tln'  tiiiif, 
A  >iif  ifi^ii't  tor  liis  iiiilioiiourcd  naiiio 

A\  <s  tlirsf  words:        tlic  wonii  lii-iifatli  tlw  sod 

j\I  1   it^ilf  ill  li(>iiiaL;c  of  tlic  (  lod. 

IS:;,. 

IJNKS 


Fak,  far  away,  O  yo 

Halycons  of  mt'iiuMyl 
Seek  Komo  far  calmer  nest 
Tliau  this  aliaiidoncd  breast  ; 
No  iiows  of  your  false  spriiiir  5 

To  my  litait's  winter  briii;^  ; 
Once  liavinj;'  j;oiie,  in  vain 

Ye  eome  ay;aiii. 

II 

Vultures,  wlio  build  your  bowers 

Ilij^li  in  tl.e  future's  towrrsi  10 

A\  itliered  lioj)es  on  hopes  are  spread  ; 

Dyinj^  joys,  choked  l)y  tlie  dead, 

AN'iil  serve  yoni-  beaks  for  prey 

Many  a  day. 
1821. 


TO   f:MILrA    VIVIANI 

Madonna,  \vher(;fon'  hast  thou  sent  to  me 

Sweet-basil  and  ini_i;nonette  ? 
Embleniiiii;-  love  and  healtli,  which  never  yet 
in  till'  ^ame  wreath  mii;lit  he. 

Alas,  and  they  are  wet  I 


TO 


191 


10 


sod 


Is  it  with  tliy  Ivissrs  or  tliy  tc'in 
For  iifver  lain  nor  «li\v 


iicli  tian'iaiK'f  (111.' 


\v 


From  i)laiit  or  tiowcr    -  thf  veiy  iloubt  t'lidfars 

Mv  >a(liit'>s  rvtT  IH'W,  10 

Thf  si^lis  I  liivathf,  the  tiiirs  I  ^ll^(l.  for  thee. 

Send  the  stars  li<;ht,  hut  send  not  h)Ve  to  me, 

In  ulioni  lovr  evtM-  nia(h' 
Health  like  a  heap  of  endters  sooi^  to  f;ule. 
M.inh,  l^-'l. 


TO 


r 
I     « 


Mr  Sir,  wlien  soft  voices  die. 
V'i Urates  in  the  nieniory  ; 
()(h)nrs,  when  sweet  violets  sicken, 
Live  within  the  sense  they  (luicken  ; 


10 


Rose-leaves,  when  the  rose  is  dead. 
Are  heaped  for  the  heloveil's  lied  ; 
And  so  thy  thoughts,  when  thou  art  gone, 
Love  itself  shall  slumber  on. 
18121. 


TO 


Onk  word  is  too  often  profaned 

For  me  to  ]>rofane  it, 
Quo.  feelinp;  too  falsely  ditdained 

For  thee  to  disdain  it ; 
One  hoi)e  is  too  like  despair 

F\)r  ])nulence  to  smother, 
And  i'lty  from  thee  iiime  uC-ar 

Than  that  from  another. 


I  i  ! 


i'l 


r  •■ 


192  TO  

I  can  give  not  what  men  call  love. 

But  wilt  thou  ac(''!'>t  not 
The  worshi])  thu  '     «      lifts  above 

And  the  Heavt  jcct  not, — 

The  (li'sire  of  tlic  i  for  tint  star, 

Of  tlie  niL;lit  for  the  morrow, 
The  (li'votiou  to  soiiictliinn'  afar 

From  the  si)heru  of  our  sorrow? 
1821. 


TO 


When  passion's  trance  is  overpast, 
If  tenderness  and  truth  could  last 
Or  live,  whilst  all  wild  feelinj^s  keep 
Some  mortal  slumber,  dark  and  deep, 
I  should  not  weep,  I  should  not  weep ! 

It  were  enough  to  feel,  to  see 

Thy  soft  eyes  gazing  tenderly. 

And  dream  the  rest  —  and  burn  and  be 

The  secret  food  of  fires  unseen, 

Couldst  thou  but  be  as  thou  hast  been. 


10 


15 


10 


After  the  slumber  of  the  year 
The  WO'  (Hand  violets  reappear  ; 
All  thi.igs  revive  in  field  or  grove 
And  sky  and  sea,  but  two,  which  move 
And  form  all  others,  life  and  love. 
1821. 


15 


MUTAlilLITY 


193 


'^;ii 


10 


BRIDAL  SONG 


The  golden  gates  of  sleep  unbar 

Where  strength  and  beauty,  met  together, 
Kindle  their  image  like  a  star 

In  a  sea  of  glassy  weather! 
Night,  with  all  thy  stars  look  down  ;  6 

Darkness,  weep  thy  holiest  dew  ;  — 
Never  smiled  the  inconstant  moon 

On  a  j)air  so  true. 
Let  eyes  not  see  their  own  delight ; 
Haste,  swift  hour,  and  thy  Hight  10 

Oft  renew. 


II 

Fairies,  sprites,  and  angels,  keep  her! 

Holy  stars,  permit  no  wrong! 
And  return  to  wake  the  sleeper, 

Dawn,  —  ere  it  be  long. 
O  joy  !    O  foar !    what  will  be  done 
In  the  absence  of  the  sun ! 
Come  along ! 
1821. 


15 


MUTABILITY 


The  flower  that  smiles  to-day 

To-morrow  dies  ; 
All  that  we  wish  to  stay. 

Tempts  and  then  flies. 
What  is  this  world's  delight? 
Lightning  that  mocks  the  night, 
Brief  even  a.s  bright. 


i'l 


194  SO.WKT 

Virtue,  how  frail  it  is ! 

Friendship,  [ww  rare! 
Love,  how  it  sells  poor  hliss  10 

For  proud  (k'Sj)air ! 
But  we,  though  soon  they  fall, 
Survive  their  joy  and  all 
Which  oi  rs  we  call. 

Whilst  skies  are  blue  and  bright,  15 

Whilst  llowers  are  ^ay. 
Whilst  eyes  that  eliange  ere  night 

Make  ghul  the  day. 
Whilst  yet  tlie  ealui  hours  er<    p 
Dream  thou  —  and  from  thy  sleep  20 

Then  wake  t(»  weep. 
1821. 

SONNKT 

rOI.ITICAl.    OUEATXESS 

Noii  happiness,  nor  majesty,  nor  fame, 

Nor  peaee,  nor  strength,  nor  skill  in  arms  or  arts, 
Shepherd  thost*  herds  whom  tyranny  makes  tame:  — 

Vi'rse  echoes  not  one  l)eating  of  their  hearts; 
History  is  but  the  shadow  of  'heir  shame  :  5 

Art  veils  her  glass,  or  from  tlu;  jingeant  starts, 
As  to  oblivion  their  blind  millions  tleet, 

Staining  that  Heaven  with  obseeiie  imagery 
Of  their  own  likeness.     What  are  numbers,  knit 

I>y  foree  or  custom?     Man  who  man  would  be,      10 
Mn>t  rule  the  empire    ■<"  hiniselt'  !   in  it 
Mii>.l  be  snprenie,  e>ta.ilisliing  his  throin; 

On  van(piisl'ed  will,  (pielling  tiie  anarchy 
Of  liopes  ami  fei'rs,  being  himself  alone. 

ib21. 


.1   LAMENT 


195 


TO-MORROW 

WllKRE  :ii't  tlinit,  beloved  To-inorrow  ? 

NN'Ik.'II  yoiiii:;-  uiul  old,  uiid  .strong  and  weak, 
Kich  and  poor,  through  joy  and  horiow, 

Thy  sweet  smiles  we  ever  seek, — 
In  tliy  place  —  ah!  well-a-day  I  fi 

We  tind  the  thing  we  fleil  —  To-day. 

Ls-Jl. 

A   LAMKNT 

O  Would:  O  Life!  OTime! 
On  whose  last  stei)s  I  clind), 

Tr(Mnl)ling  at  that  where  I  had  s«^^ood  before; 
^\  lien  will  leturn  the  glory  of  your  prime? 

No  more  —  oh,  never  more  !  5 

Cut  of  the  day  and  night 
A  joy  has  taken  Hight  ; 

Fresh  spring,  and  summer,  and  winter  hoar. 
Move  my  faint  he:irt  with  grief,  but  with  delight 
No  m.re  —  oh,  never  more  !  10 

181' i. 


A    LAMKNT 

SwnTI.K  far  tlian  summer's  flight, 
Swifter  far  than  youth's  delight, 
SwifttM-  far  than  happy  night, 

Art  thou  eouie  and  gone: 
As  the  earth  wiicn  leaves  are  dead. 
As  the  night  when  sleej)  is  sped, 
As  the  heart  when  jov  is  fled, 

I  am  left  alone,  alone. 


*M't 


i 


I 

II 


1        ! 

i! 


196  A    LAMENT 

The  swalldw  Siiimiier  comrs  again. 

The  owlet  Xii^ht  resuriifs  her  reign,  10 

But  the  wi'tl  swan  Youth  is  fain 

To  Hy  witli  thee,  False  as  thou  : 
INIy  heart  each  day  (lesir«  s  the  morrow, 
Sleep  itself  is  turned  to  sorrow; 
Vainly  would  my  winter  borrow  15 

Sunny  leavt.s  from  any  bough. 


(  i 


Lilies  for  a  bridal  bed, 
Koses  for  a  matron's  head, 
Violets  for  a  maiden  dead  ; 

I'ansies  let  my  Howers  be: 
On  the  livin^  gi.ive  I  bea 
Scatter  them  without  a  tear  : 
Let  no  fr.   nd,  how.  ver  dear. 

Waste  one    lope,  one  fear  for  me. 


20 


;a 


.  ^£E«^. 


10 


AIM  )N  A  IS 


II 


AX    ELEGY    ON    THE    DEATH    OF   JOHN    KEATS 


1.5 


rilKFACE 

'IdpjLl'iKOI'  >iAf*'.    UlOJI',   TOT     (Tor    .TTOMa.  (f>  i  pflnKrv  «'5ff 
Ilios  Till  Tin^  ^fiAe(T(Tt  TTOT  Rpunf,  Koi'K  iy.'VKtii't^n  ; 
Ti?  6(  0poT'K  T  (Tcror'To*'  ai'uMtpo;,  >i  k  p  '  trai  rott 
*  H  6oi  i'  tl  AaAtOfTt  T"  (J)ttpfia»f(ii'  ;    fK'l'Xjyfr  u  &  iv. 

Mosiiius,  I'piliijih.  Flicn. 

It  is  my  intention  to  siihjoin  to  tlio  London  e<iition  of  this  poem 
a  ciitii'isni  npon  tlio  claims  of  its  lamented  object  to  be  classed 
amon<^  tiie  writers  of  tlie  liigliest  genius  who  liave  adorned  our 
age.  My  known  repngnanee  to  the  inirrow  princiiiles  of  taste  on 
whii'h  several  of  his  earlier  compositions  were  nnxltdled,  proves, 
at  least,  that  I  am  an  inipai'tial  jndge.  I  consider  the  fragment 
of  Iliipcrion  as  secoiul  to  nothing  that  was  ever  produced  by  a 
writer  of  the  same  years. 

John  Keats  died  at  Rome  of  a  consumption,  in  his  tweiity- 
fonrth  year,  on  tlie  ii3d  of  February,  IK'Jl;  and  was  buried  in 
the  romantic  and  lonely  cemetery  of  the  Protestants  in  that  city, 
nnder  the  pyramid  wiiich  is  the  tomb  of  Cestiiis,  and  the  massy 
walls  and  towers,  now  mouldering  and  desolate,  whicii  formed 
the  circuit  of  ancient  Rome.  The  cemetery  is  an  open  space 
among  the  ruins,  covered  in  winter  with  violets  and  daisies.  It 
might  make  one  in  love  with  death,  to  think  that  one  shoidd  be 
buried  in  so  sweet  a  j)iace. 

The  genius  of  tl  e  lamented  person  to  whose  tiu'inorv  I  have 
dedicated  these  unwoi'tiiy  verses,  was  not  less  delicate  and  fragile 
than  it  was  beautiful  ;  and,  wliere  canker-worms  abound,  what 
wonder  if  its  young  flower  was  blighted  in  the  bud  ?  The  savag(> 
criticism  on  his  Kihli/mion,  which  a])peareil  in  the  Qnartirlii  AV- 
!•/>«•,  produced  the  niost  violent  effect  on  his  susceptible  mind ; 
the  agitation  thus  originated  ended  in  the  rupture  of  a  blood- 
vessel ill  the  lungs  ;  a  rajiid  consumption  ensued  ;  and  tbi-  suc- 
ceeding acknowledgments  from  more  candid  critics,  of  the  irue 
greatness  of  bis  powers,  were  inetfectiial  to  heal  the  wound  thus 
waiitonlv  inflicted. 


/ 


I! 


i  I 


II 


198 


A  DON  A  IS 


It  iii.iv  !m'  \v(11  siiid  tli;it  tlicsc  whIcIkmI  iiicii  know  not  what 
tlicy  tlo.  TlifV  MMtttT  tliiif  insults  Mtd  their  sluinifrs  witliout 
lifi'il  as  to  \\lii  till  r  till-  |iiiis(iiiiii  >li;itl  lij^iits  uu  a  iicirt  niiide 
callous  liy  many  hlow^,  or  (uii',  hki'  l\cat>'s.  coniiioM'il  of  mon; 
licnctiaiilc  stuf.  One  of  tli':i  a.-,.MHiatr,s  is,  to  njy  knowlidn...  a 
most  liasi-  and  uiijirinriiilfd  caliunnialor.  As  to  ilmi ipnidn,  was 
It  a  pochi,  whatt-vcr  inij^lit  he  its  (hi'.cts,  to  he  triated  i-oiilcnijitu- 
ounIv  hy  those  u  iio  had  eelehrated  with  various  decrees  of  eoin- 
]il  iceiiey  and  i>aiie;,'yrii',  /'://■,.,  and  11  (;;;•(/;,.  and  .  I  Si/ridii  'I'alr, 
!iud  Mrs.  I,efanu,  and  .Mr.  Haiiett,  and  Mr.  Howard  I'ayne,  and 
a  hiun;  li>t  ui  til.'  illustrious  oli.^eure'.'  Are  tlie^e  the  mcu  who, 
in  tluir  vi'iial  i^ood-uature.  ]irisun.cd  to  draw  a  iiaralh  1  hetweeii 
the  Rev.  Mr.  .Miliiian  and  Lord  liyron?  What  {,Miat  did  they 
strain  at  here,  after  having'  swallowed  all  liiose  eaniehs?  A^'ainst 
what  woman  taken  in  adultery  dares  the  foremost  of  these  literary 
prostitutes  to  east  his  opjirohrious  stone  ?  Miserahle  man  !  von, 
one  of  the  meanest,  ha\()  wantonly  defaced  one  of  the  uohlest 
sjieeimens  of  the  workmanship  of  (iod.  Nor  shall  it  he  your  ex- 
cuse, tiiat,  nmrderer  as  yon  are,  you  have  spoken  da<,'gers,  but 
Jised  none. 

The  cireiimstanees  of  the  closinj;  scene  of  poor  Keats's  life 
were  not  made  known  to  me  until  the  KIe<,'-y  was  readv  for  the 
l>ress.  I  am  >,n\  ui  to  und.'rstaud  that  the  wound  whieli  his  sen- 
.sitive  spirit  hail  received  from  the  criticism  of  /■'mh/mion  was 
i'xas])erated  l)y  the  hitter  sense  n{  unrecpiited  henclits  ;  the  poor 
fellow  seems  to  have  heen  hoote<l  from  the  staj;e  of  life,  no 
less  hy  those  on  whom  he  had  wasted  the  jjromise  of  his  genius, 
than  those  on  wImmu  he  had  lavi.^lied  his  fortune  and  his  care.  H« 
wa-^  accompanied  to  Home,  and  attended  in  his  last  illness  hv  Mr. 
Severn,  a  youiij,^  artist  of  the  highest  j.romise,  who,  I  have  heen 
informed,  "almo-t  ii>!;ed  his  own  life,  and  sacrificed  everv  pros- 
]iect  to  unwearied  attendance  upon  his  dviiig  friend."  Had  I 
known  these  circumstances  hefore  the  completion  of  iiiv  poi'm. 
I  shoiihl  have  heen  tempteil  toaihl  my  feehle  trihllte  of  applause 
to  the  mon;  solid  recompense  which  th.'  virtimus  man  finds  in 
the  rccollei'f(ui  of  his  own  moti\es.  Mr.  Se\iin  ian'di>penM> 
with  a  rew.ird    from    '-such  stutl'  as  dreams   are   madi-  ot."    His 

coiiduet  is  a  gold'u  au^Miry  of  the  success  of  his  future  career 

n  ay  the  unextinguished  .Spirit  id'  his  illiistrions  friend  animate  the 
cr.  at  ions  of  his  pencil,  and  plead  .against  Ohlivion  lor  his  name  ! 


.17>O.V.l/.s 


lyii 


I'LATi). 


I 

I  WKKP  for  AdoiKiis  —  111'  i^  tli'iid  I 
Oh,  wtM'p  for  A.loiiai.-i  !   tlioii^'li  our  tears 
Tliiiw  not  till-  frost  wliicli  hinds  so  (lc:ir  a  head  ! 
And  thou,  sad  Hour,  selected  from  all  years 
To  mourn  our  loss,  rouse  thy  ohseure  eonijieers, 


A  ntl  teaidi  them  thine  own  sorrow .    hay 
Died  Adonais:   till  the  JMiture  dares 
For<'et  the  Past,  his  fate  and  fame  shall  be 
An  echo  and  a  liyht  unto  eternity  I  " 


With  nu3 


II 


Where  wert  thou,  mi-hty  Mother,  when  he  lav,    10 
AVhen  thy  sou  lay.  piereed  hy  the  shaft  whieh  Hies 
In  darkness?     Where  was  lorn  Trania 
When  Adonais  died'/     With  veiled  eyes, 
'Mid  lislenin-;-  Kehois.  in  her  Paradise 
She  sati',  while  one,  with  soft  enamoured  breath,   15 
IveklutUed  all  the  fading  mehidies 
With  whieh,  like  tiawers  that  moek  the  eorse  beneath, 
He  had  adorned  and  hid  the  eoming  bulk  of  Death. 


Oh,  weep  for  Adonais  — In;  is  dead  ! 
Wake,  melaneholy  Mothei,  wake  and  weep!  -•'J 

Yet  wherefore  ?     (^ueneh  within  their  burning  bed 
Thy  liery  tears,  and  let  thy  loutl  heart  keej), 
lydce  his,  a  nniti;  and  uneomplaiuiug  sleep  :  ^ 
\'\>v  he  is  gone,  where  all  things  wise  and  fair 
l)<'scend:  — oh,  dream  not  that  the  amorous  Deep 

Will  yet  reston;  him  to  the  vital  air:  -'0 

Dc-.th  fre.bon  his  murr  voice,  and  lauglis  at  our  despair. 


■'I 


200 


ADOXAIS 


IV 


Most  musical  of  uioiinicrs,  ucop  af^ain  ! 
lianifiit  anew,  Urania! —  lie  ditd, 
A\  lio  was  tlif  Siro  of  an  iiiiinortal  strain,  30 

Ulind,  olil.  and  iontly.  ulifii  iiis  ('(unitrvs  pride 
Tlif  priest,  till)  slave,  and  llie  liherticidc. 
Trampled  and  moeked  with  many  a  loatlic'd  rite 
Of  hist  and  hlood  ;   he  went,  unterrilit.'d. 
Into  the  f^ndf  of  death  ;   hnt  his  clear  Sprite  .'{.'i 

Yet  rei<,nis  o'er  earth;  the  third  among  the  sons  of 
light. 


Most  musical  of  mourners,  weep  anew  ! 
Not  all  to  that  i)ri^ht  station  dared  to  climh : 
And  happier  they  their  happiness  who  knew. 
Whose  taper.s  yet  burn  through  that  night  of  time  1(» 
In  which  suns  ])erished  ;  others  more  sublime, 
Struck  by  the  envious  wrath  of  man  or  God, 
Have  sunk,  extinct  in  their  refulgent  prime  ; 
And  some  yet  live,  treading  the  thorny  road. 
Which  leads,  through  toil  and  hate,  to  Fame's  serene 
abode.  45 


VI 

iJut  now,  thy  youngest,  dearest  one  has  perished, 
The  nursling  of  tiiy  \vi{l.)\vhood,  who  grew, 
L  ke  a  i)ale  flower  \>y  some  sad  maiilen  cherished, 
And  fed  with  true-love  tears  instead  of  dew; 
Most  musical  of  mourners,  weej)  amnv  I  5 

Thy  extreme  hojie,  the  loveliest  and  the  last. 
The  bloom,  whose  pet'ds,  nipt  l)efore  they  blew, 
Died  on  the  jiromise  of  the  fruit,  is  waste  ; 
The  broken  lily  lies  —  the  storm  is  overpast. 


.i/>ov  i;.s 


MI 


To  that  liiyli  oapitul,  where  Uiii^ly  Death 
Keeps  his  pah'  court  in  hcaiitv  and  tU-cay, 


liOl 


65 


Ileeanie;  and   hon^lit,  with  piice  of  pnnst  hreath, 
A  n'lave  anionL;'  the  eternal.        (nnie  away! 
Haste,  whiU'  tlie  vanlt  of  Idin;  Italian  day 
Is  yet  his  iittini;'  chai-nel-rool"  I    while  still  60 

lie  lies,  as  if  in  dewy  sleep  he  lay; 
Awake  him  not  I   snrely  he  takes  his  fill 
OF  deep  and  li(]uid  rest,  foigetfnl  of  all  ill. 

VIII 

He  will  awake  no  more,  oh.  never  more! 
Within  the  twilii;lit  ehand)er  spreads  apace  G5 

The  shadow  of  white  Death,  and  at  the  door 
Invisihle  Corruption  waits  to  trace 
His  extreme  way  to  her  dim  dwellin?-j)lace ; 
The  eternal  Huni^er  sits,  hut  ]»ity  and  awe 
Soothe  her  pale  raci^e,  nor  dares  she  to  deface         70 
So  fair  a  prey,  till  darkness  and  the  law 
Of   ehann'e,   shall   o't.T   his   sleep   the   mortal   curtain 
draw. 


IX 

Oh,  wee])  for  Adonais  !  — The  (piiek  Dreams, 
The  passiou-wini:;ed  ministers  of  thought. 
Who  were  his  Hocks,  whom  near  the  liviii':;'  streams  7') 
Of  his  younii^  spirit  he  fed.  and  whom  he  taught 
The  love  which  was  its  mu>ic.  wander  not.  — 
AVander  no  more,  from  kintUint;^  hraiii  to  hrain, 
l>ut  droop  there,  whence  they  sprung:  and  mourn 
their  lot  70 

Kound  the  cold  heart,  where,  after  their  sweet  p:\in. 
They  ne'er  will  gather  strength,  or  find  a  home  again. 


202 


Alios  MS 


■  \ 

II 


i'i 


i 


Aiul 


>IH'      Wl 


Head 


th    tremhliii-'    liaiuls    clusps    Ins    c 


.1(1 


v\n,l   fans  l.im  with  hw  inoouli-I.t  uin-s,  :u..l  cnoa  : 
"  (  )ur  l(.vf,  Miir  li..I>''.  our  s'-iiou,  is  n-.t  .l.-ad  ; 
Sr.-.  on  til.'  silken  fiin-.'  ..f  his  faint  cvrs,  sr. 

Likr  <h-\v  upon  :v  sk'.'pin^'  tlow.T,  tlu-iv  lu'S       ^     ^^ 
A  t.'uf  soni.'  Divani  has  l.Mwn.'.l  fnnn  his  hnun. 
Lost  An<;(.'l  of  :i  inin.'.l  raiiidisc  ! 
Sla-  Uni-w  not  "t  was  lar  own  :  us  with  no  stain 
She  fa.le.l,  lik.;  a  clou.l  whi.h  ha.l  ontwopt  its  nun.  OU 


XI 

Oiu-  from  a  hu-i.l  urn  of  starry  ilow 
Washed  his  li-ht  lin.hs,  as  if  en.l.ahning  them; 
Another  elipt  her  profuse  h-eks,  anil  threw 
The  vreath  upon  him.  like  an  ana.leui 
AVhieh  frozen  tears  instea.l  ..f  pearls  l.e,;;ein  ; 
Another  in  her  wilful  -rlef  wouKl  hreak 
Her  how  and  winded  reeds,  as  if  to  stem 
A  un-eater  loss  with  oie^  which  was  more  weak: 
And  dull  the  harl.ed  lire  against  his  frozen  eheek. 


95 


XII 

Another  l^plendour  cm  his  mouth  alit,  l'>0 

That  mouth  whenee  it  was  wont  to  .haw  the  hrcath 
Whieh  -ave  it  stren-th  to  pier.-e  the  -uar.led  wit. 
And  pass  into  the  ])autin,L;-  heart  heiu'ath 
With  lik'litnjijsi-  an.l  with  music  :  the  damp  death 
(Ju.'m-hed  rts  caress  upon  his  icy  lil)s  ;  1^5 

And.  as  a  dvin--  m.'teor  stains  a  wreath 
Of  ,noonliL;ht  vapour,  which  the  cl.l  ni-ht  clips. - 
It  tlu,hcd  throu-h  his  pah'   liml.s,  and  passe.l  t..  its 
eclipse. 


.t/>o.v,t/s 


MM 


Anil  others  fiiii 


IK 


>iifs  a 


11(1  Atli>i;itit»iis, 


\V>n^ 


t'l 


I  I 


i'i->ii:t~'i<in--. 


,tllU    Viiu:> 


,1  IK 


lllM'S, 


2o:i 


11(1 


Sploiulour-,  am 


1  (,.  ...ms,  au.l   grnninnui--   im-:iru; 


Of  11. 

Au.l 


tlDllS 

Dl's  an 


>()i  low 


1  tsvili-lit   Fantasies, 
li 


I  l-"fars,  ail. 

svitli  lit-r  fainilv  of  SiLili 


Au.l  I'i.'asuif 


1,11,,, I  Nvilli  l.Mis,  Ic.l  l.v  th.'  -l.'ain 
()f  hn-oNM.  .Ivin-  siuil.'  iu>t.a.l  of  ry.s,  H' 

(  •„„,  i,.  .low  1,0,111.;  -tin-  n.-vi.i;'  l...n.l.  nn^ht  ..e.M.i 
Like  i.agoautiy  ..f  mist  on  an  aiitnn.nal  stiran.. 

\iv 
All  1...  had  love.l  and  nu.al.lr.l  into  tl.ought 
Fioni  shap.^  ami  luu-  ami  ..dour  au.l  swort  sound,  ^ 
LauK-uted  A.lonais.     Moinin-  M.u-la  1-'^' 

11.  .eastern  watcli-t..wer,  and  luT  hair  uul..mnd, 

^V.t  with  the  tears  whieli  sh..ul.l  ad.nn  the  gn.un.l, 
Dimmed  the  aerial  i-y.'s  that  kiu.Ue  day  ; 
Afar  the  melauelioly  tliumh'r  moaned,  ^^ 

Tale  Oeeau  in  umjuiet  sluniher  lay. 
And  the  wild  winds  Uew  n.uu.l,  sohWnv^  ni  their  dismay. 

XV 

Lost  Eeho  sits  ami.l  the  vol.-eless  mountains, 
And  fe.-ds  her  grief  with  his  remembere.l  lay. 
And  will  no  move  reply  to  winds  or  lounta.ns, 
(),•  auu.rous  birds  peivhed  mi  the  young  green  spray, 
Or  herdsman-s  h.n-n,  or  hell  at  eh.smg  day  ; 

Since  she  ean  mimie  not  his  lij.s.  more  dear 
Tlian  those  for  wlw.se  diMlain  she  pine.l  away 
Intoasha.h.w  ..fall  sounds  : --^  a  drear 
Murmur,    hetw..eu    their    songs,   is    all    the    wooduieu 
hear. 


i:n 


v.'.r, 


I  r 


MICROCOPY    RESOLUTION    TEST    CHART 

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1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


1^ 


2.8 

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III  2.5 

I  2.2 

2.G 
1.8 


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(716)   482  -  OJOO  -  Phone 

(716)    288  -  5989  -  Fox 


204 


ADOXAIS 


i'  I 


ii     . 
4:  A 


XVI 

Grief    n:\(^.e  the  young  Spring  wild,  and  she  tlircw 

down 
Ilcr  Icindling  Uuds,  as  if  slic  Antnnin  were. 
Or  tht'V  (h.'ad  leaves  :  since  her  delitilit  is  flown, 
For  wlioni  should  she  have  waked  the  sullen  year? 
To  Pliu'hus  was  not  Ilyaeinth  so  dear,  110 

Nor  to  himself  Narcissus,  as  to  l)oth 
Tiiou,  Adonais :  wan  they  stand  and  sere 
Amid  the  faint  companions  of  their  youth. 
With  dew  all  turned  to  tears :  odour,  to  sighing  ruth. 

XVII 

Thy  spirit's  sister,  the  lorn  nightingale,  145 

Mourns  not  her  mate  with  such  melodious  pain  ; 
Not  so  the  eagle,  who  like  thee  could  scale 
Heaven,  and  could  nourish  in  the  sun's  domain 
Her  mighty  youth  with  morning,  doth  com])lain, 
Soaring  and  screaming  round  her  emi)ty  nest,      150 
As  Albion  wails  for  thee  :   the  curse  of  Cain 
Light  on  his  head  who  pierced  thy  innocent  breast, 
And  scared  the  angel  soul  that  was  its  earthly  guest ! 

XVIII 

-^h  woe  is  me  I  Winter  is  come  and  gone, 
But  grief  returns  with  the  revolvinuf  vear :  l^r) 

The  nirs  and  sti'eams  renew  their  joyous  tone; 
The  ants,  the  bees,  the  swallows.  I'eappear ; 
Fresii  leaves  anil  flowers  deck  the  dead  Seasons'  bier  ; 
The  amorous  birds  now  pair  in  everv  brake. 
And  build  theii'  mossy  homes  in  iield  and  brerc  :  IfiO 
And  the  green  lizai'd,  and  the  golden  snake. 


'Hi 


ADOXAIS 


205 


XIX 

Througli  wood  and  stream  and  field  and  liill  and 

Ocean 
A  (inii'kenini;-  life  from  the  Eartli's  lieart  lias  burst, 
As  it  has  ever  done,  with  chani^e  and  motion,       105 
Fi'om  the  great  morning  of  the  world  when  lirst 
(lod  dawned  on  Chaos:  in  its  steam  immersed, 
The  lami)S  of  heaven  Hash  with  a  softer  light; 
All  baser  things  i)ant  with  life's  sacred  thirst. 
Diffuse  themselves,  and  s])end  in  love's  delight    170 
The  beauty  and  the  joy  of  their  renewed  might. 

XX 

The  leprous  oorjise,  touched  by  this  s])irit  tender. 
Exhales  itself  in  flowers  of  gentle  breath  ; 
Like  incarnations  of  the  stars,  when  s})lendour 
Is  ehangcnl  to  fragrance,  they  ilhunine  death,       175 
And  mock  the  merry  worm  that  wakes  beneath. 
Naught  we   know,   dies.     Shall    that    alone  which 

knows 
Be  as  a  sword  consumed  before  the  sheath 
By  sightless  lightning?  —  th'  intense  atom  glows 
A  moment,  then  is  quenched  in  a  most  cold  repose.  180 


XXI 

Alas!   that  all  wo  loved  of  him  should  be. 
But  for  our  grief,  as  if  it  had  not  been. 
And  <n'ief  itself  be  mortal  I    Woe  is  me! 
Whence  are  we,  and  why  are  we?  of  what  scene 
The  actors  or  s])ectators?  CJroat  and  mean  ISf) 

Meet   massed    in  death,  who   leiuls    what  life  must 

borrow. 
^^c  li!!!.r  ;.s  ski'.'s  iivc  l>!uc-.  .aud  fi(dds  are  green. 


1 1 


HI'S 


w 


u^. 


^i 


20G 


.\i)oy.iis 


Kvou'iw'j;  iiuist  iislicr  iiiglit,  iii^Iit  nri;o  tlio  morrow, 
Mouth  follow  luoiitl;  with  woe,  uml  year  wake  year  to 
sorrow. 

XXII 

J/i   will  awake  no  more,  oh,  never  morel  I'JO 

"Wake   thoii,"   cried    Misery,    "childless    Mother, 

rise 
Out  of  thy  slee]),  and  slak(!,  in  tliy  heart's  core, 
A    wound    more    llerce    than    his,    with    tears    and 

sin'hs."' 
And  all  the  Dn^ams  thnt  watched  Urania's  eyes, 
^\nd  all  the  Kchoes  whom  their  sister's  son<r         195 
Had  held  in  holy  silence,  cried  :   "  Arise  I" 
Swift  as  a  thouc^ht  hy  the  sniike  Memory  sttmj;'. 
From  her  anihrosial  rest  the  fading-  S[)lendour  si)rung. 

XXIII 

She  rose  like  an  autumnal  Night,  that  springs 
Out  of  the  East,  and  follows  wild  and  drear         200 
The  golden  Day,  which,  on  eternal  wings, 
Even  as  a  ghost  ahandoning  a  Itier, 
Had  left  tlu!  Earth  a  corpse ;  —  sorrow  and  fear 
So  struck,  so  roused,  so  rapt,  Urania ; 
So  saddened  round  her  like  an  atmos])here  205 

Of  stormy  mist:  so  swt'pt  her  on  her  wav, 
P'.ven  to  the  mournfid  place  where  Adonais  lav. 


XXIV 

C)ut  of  her  secret  Paradise  she  sped. 

Through   c;imps   and   <'i:ies   rough   with  stone,  and 

steel. 
And  human  heaits,  which,  to  her  aery  tread         210 

1    li'lillllii'    lliif       Vl'>  mill  111/)     fli.i    ill  i>!^l  I  >!.. 


.17>O.V/l/.S 


207 


Palms  of  hvv  tetuler  ft'ot  where'er  they  fell: 

And  harbed  tongues,  and  thoughtii  more  sharp  than 

they, 
Kent  the  soft  Form  they  never  eould  repel,  '-Ml 

Wliose  saered  blood,  like  tlie  young  tears  of  May, 
Paved  with  eternal  flowers  that  undeserving  way. 

XXV 

In  the  (leath-ehamber  for  a  moment  Death, 
Shamed  by  the  })resenee  of  that  living  Might, 
IMushed  to  annihilation,  and  the  breath 
Kevisited  those  lifts,  and  life's  pale  light  --0 

Flashed  through  those  limbs,  so  late  her  dear  de- 
light. 
"Leave  me  not  wild  and  drear  and  comfortless, 
As  silent  lightning  leaves  the  starless  night ! 
Leave  me  not  I  "  ei  .ed  Urania:  her  distress 
Housed  Death:   Death   rose  and  smiled,  and  met  her 
vain  caress.  -->^ 


XXVI 

"  Stay  yet  awhile  !  speak  to  me  once  again  ; 
Kiss  me,  so  long  but  as  a  kiss  may  live ; 
And  in  my  heartless  breast  and  burning  brain 
That  word,  that  kiss,  shall  all  tlioughts  else  survive. 
With  food  of  sathlest  memoiy  kept  alive,  2:50 

Now  thou  art  dead,  as  if  it  were  a  part 
Of  thee,  my  Adouais!    I  would  give 
All  that  I  am  to  be  as  thou  now  art! 
l>ut  I  am  ehained  to  Time,  and  cannot  thence  depart! 

X  \  \  1 1 
"O  irentle  child,  beautiful  as  thou  wert,  23r» 


w-i... 

7T  ::_) 


K.I,,*    ft 1,, 


♦  Iw.     ♦••iwlil..ll      Htltll«<    l\(    IllPTl 


!! 


208 


ADONAIS 


II 


,1    I 


Too   soon,   and  with    weak   hands   though    niiglity 

lioart 
Daro  tilt'  nn{)asturod  drai^on  in  lii^  den? 
Defenceless  as  thou  wcit,  oh,  where  was  then       239 
AVisdoni  the  mirrored  shield,  or  scorn  the  spear? 
Or  hadst  thou  waited  the  full  cycle,  when 
Thy  s])irit  should  have  filled  its  crescent  sphere, 
The  monsters  of  life's  waste  had  tied  from  thee  like 
deer. 

XXVIII 

"  The  herded  wolves,  Ixdd  only  to  pursue  ; 

The  obscene  ravens,  clamorous  o'er  the  dead  ;      245 

The  vultures,  to  the  eoiKiueror's  banner  true, 

Who  feed  where  Desolation  first  has  fed, 

And  whose  win<;s  rain  conta<;ion  ;  —  how  they  fled, 

"When,  like  Apollo  from  his  golden  bow. 

The  Pythian  of  the  age  one  arrow  sj)ed  2r,Q 

And    smiled  I  —  The    spoilers    tempt    no    second 

blow, 
They  fawn  on  the  i)roud  feet  that  spurn  them  lying 

low. 

XXIX 

"The  sun  conies  forth,  and  many  re])tiles  spawn; 
He  sets,  and  eaeli  ephemeral  insect  then 
Is  gathered  into  death  witliout  a  dawn,  255 

And  the  inunortal  stars  awake  again. 
So  is  it  in  the  woi'ld  of  living  men  : 
A  godlike  mind  soars  forth,  in  its  delight 
Making  earth  bare  and  veiling  heaven,  ami  when 
It  sinks,  the   swarms   that  dimmed   or  shared    its 
light  2(iO 

jueave  Lo  its  kindred  lamps  tlie  spirit's  awful  night." 


ADONAIS 


200 


XXX 

Thus  ooased  slic  :  and  tlio  iiionnt;iin  sliojihords  came, 
Tlieir  garlands  sere,  tlieir  niaj;i('  mantles  rent  ; 
The  Pilgrim  of  Kteruity,  whose  fame 
Over  his  living  head  like  Heaven  is  Ijtnt,  2V,rt 

An  early  hut  cnihiring  nionument, 
Came,  veiling  all  tlu;  lightnings  of  his  song 
In  sorrow  ;  from  her  wilds  lerne  sent 
The  sweetest  lyrist  of  her  saddest  wrong, 
And   love   taught   grief   to   fall   like   music  from  his 

270 


tongue. 


XXXI 


'Midst  others  of  less  note,  came  one  frail  Form, 
A  phantom  among  men,  companionless 
As  the  last  cloud  of  an  expiring  storm, 
"Whose  thunder  is  its  knell ;  he.  as  I  guess, 
Had  gazed  on  Nature's  naked  loveliness,  275 

Actaion-like,  and  now  he  fled  astray 
With  feehle  steps  o'er  the  world's  wilderness. 
And  his  own  thoughts,  along  that  rugged  way. 
Pursued,  like  raging  hounds,  their  father  and  their  prey. 


XXXII 


2S0 


A  pard-like  Spirit  heautiful  and  swift  — 
A  Love  in  desolation  masked:  —  a  Power 
Girt  round  with  weakness:  —  it  can  scarce  uplift 
The  weight  of  the  superincumbent  hour  •, 
It  is  a  dying  lamp,  a  falling  shower, 
A  bre;iking  billow: — even  whilst  we  speak         285 
Is  it  not  broken  ?     On  tlie  withering  flower 
The  killing  sun  smiles  brightly  :  on  a  cheek 
The  life  can  burn  in  blood,  even  while  the  heart  may 
break. 


It' 


,  I 


■:, 


I  i 


.  i 


f 


210 


A  DON  A  IS 


XXXIII 

His  head  was  hound  with  j):uisi('s  ovcM'blown, 
Auil  tiided  violt'ls.  white,  and  l)i<'d,  aiid  hhio  ;      200 
And  a  li^lit  spear  to))|)cd  with  a  cyprt'ss  ('(Jiie, 
Ikiiund  wliose  ruch'  siiaft  (hiil;  ivy-trt'ssi's  j^tow 
\  ct  (iiippinj;-  with  the  forest's  noon(hiy  dew, 
Vihrated,  as  tlie  ever-heatin^•  heart 
Shook  tlie  weaic  hand  that  ;;ras])ed  it:  of  tliat  crew 
I  h'  canK^  the  hist,  nei;lected  and  apart ;  '2'.H) 

A  lierd-ahandoned  deer,  struek  hy  the  hunter's  dart. 

XXXIV 

All  stood  aloof,  and  at  his  partial  moan 

Smiled   thron;^li  their  tears  :   well  knew  that  gentle 

l)and 
Who  in  anctthers  fate  now  wept  his  own ;  300 

As  in  the  acc^ents  of  an  unlcnown  land 
lie  si\n<f  new  sorrow  :  sad  Uraiua  seanned 
The  Stranger's  mien,  and   murmured:  "Who  art 

thou?" 
lie  answered  not,  hut  witli  a  sudden  hand 
Made  hare  his  hranded  and  ensan<;uined  hrow,    305 
Whieh  was  like  Cain's  or  Christ's.  —  Oh  I  that  it  shonld 


be 


so 


XXXV 

What  softer  voice  is  hushed  over  the  dead? 
Athwart  what  hrow  is  that  dark  mantle  thrown? 
What  form  leans  sadly  o'er  the  white  death-bed. 
In  mockci'v  of  monumental  stone,  310 

The  heavy  heirt  heaving  without  a  moan? 
If  it  l)e  He,  who,  gentlest  of  the  wise. 
Taught,  soothed,  loved,  honoured  the  departed  one; 
Let  me  not  vex,  with  inliarnionious  sigtis. 
The  silence  of  that  heart's  accepted  sacrifice.  Sl.'i 


\  •   '^ 


A  DO  y  A  IS  211 

X  X  X  \- 1 

Our  Adonais  lias  diniik  ])()i>on  —  oh, 
^^'ll;lt  (leal;  iiiid  viptMiiiis  iiiiirdt'iri'  coidd  crown 
Lite's  cailv  cup  with  such  ;i  dr:mi,^Iit  of  woe? 
Tile  iiaiMclos  worm  would  now  itself  di^owu  : 
It  felt,  yet  eoidd  escape  the  niai^nc  touc  ;?-'o 

\Viios»!  pn  ludo  iitdd  all  envy,  hate,  and  wrong, 
P)ut  what  was  howliiii;'  in  one  breast  ahine, 
Silent  with  expectation  of  the  souLf, 
Whose  master's  hand  is  cold,  whose  silver  lyre  un- 
strung;'. 


325 


RHO 


XXXVII 

Live  thou,  whose  infjuny  is  not  thy  fame! 
Live  I   fear  no  heavier  chastisement  from  me, 
Thou  noteless  blot  on  a  remend)ered  name! 
But  be  thyself,  and  know  thyself  to  be  ! 
And  ever  at  thy  season  be  thou  free 
To  s\n\\  the  venom  when  thy  fant^s  o'erflow : 
Remorse  and  Self-contempt  shall  ding  to  thee  ; 
Hot  Shame  shall  burn  upon  thy  secret  brow, 
And  like  a  beaten  hound  tremble  thou  shalt — as  now. 

XXXMII 

Nor  let  us  weep  that  our  delight  is  fled 
F,-vr  from  these  carrion-kites  that  scream  below;  33') 
He  wakes  or  slecj^s  with  the  enduring  dead  ; 
Thou  canst  not  soar  where  he  is  sitting  now. 
Dust  to  the  dust !  but  the  pure  spirit  shall  flow 
]?ack  to  the  bui'ning  fountain  whence  it  came, 
A  portion  of  the  Eternal,  which  must  glow  310 

Through  time  and  change,  unqueuchahly  the  same, 
Whilst  thy  cold  embers  choke  the  sordid  hearth  of 
shame. 


m 


212 


AlfNMIt 


I'*' 


IV'I        ' 


X  X  \  I X 

Pr;ic(>.  pcaoo!  lin  is  not  (U'.ul.  he  doth  not  sleep  — 
III'  li.itli  :i\v:iUen<'(I  from  tlio  dioain  of  lift;  — 
"V  is  we,  wlio,  lost  ill  stoi-niy  visions,  krcj)  ?,\Ti 

W \\\\  |)li;iiitoins  ;in  unprolitiiltlc  strife. 
And  ill  iiKid  triiiice  strih(!  with  our  >|tiiit"s  knifo 
Iii\  iiIiu'ImUIl'  iiotirnii;s.  --  \\'r  dL'cny 
liikt;  corji.scs  in  a  cIiurnLd  ;   ft'iir  ;in(l  <^rief 
Convnist!  lis  and  consmiH;  us  day  liy  day,  ^.lO 

And  cold   liopes  swarm  like  worms  within  our  living 
clay. 

XL 

He  has  outsoared  the  shadow  of  our  night ; 
p]nvy  and  caluniny,  and  hate  and  j)ain. 
And  that  nnrest  which  men  miscall  delight, 
Can  touch  him  not  and  torture  not  again  ;  355 

From  the  contarjion  of  the  world's  slow  stain 
He  is  secure,  and  now  can  never  mourn 
A  heart  grown  C(dd.  a  head  grown  gray  in  vain  ; 
Nor,  when  the  spirit's  self  has  ceased  to  burn, 
With  sparkless  ashes  load  an  unlamented  urn.         3G0 

XLI 

lie  lives,  he  wakes  —  't  is  Death  is  dead,  not  he  ; 
Mourn  not  for  Adonais.  —  Thou  young  Dawn, 
Turn  all  thy  dew  to  splendour,  for  from  thee 
The  spirit  thou  lamentest  is  not  gone  I 
Ye  caverns  and  ye  forests,  cease  to  moan  !  305 

Cease,  ye   faint  flowers  and   fountains,   and  thou 

Air, 
Which  like  a  mournins;  veil  thy  scarf  hadst  thrown 
O'er  the  abandoned  Earth,  now  leave  it  bare 
Even  to  tiie  joyous  stars  wliicli  smile  ou  its  despair  I 


ADOSAIS 


213 


XI. II 


Ho  is  inude  one  wilh  Nuluro  :   tlit-rc  is  lu'iinl 
His  vi)it'«'  ill  all  luT  imisic,  from  the  moan 
Of  tliiindtT,  to  tiu!  soiiu  of  ni^lif's  s\Vf('t  liirtl; 
II.'  is  a  prcsi'ncL'  to  lu-  tVlt  and  known 
In  darkness  and  in  light,  from  lierh  and  stono, 
Spivadinj;  itself  wliere'er  tluit  I'ower  may  move    ii 
"NVliieli  has  withdrawn  his  heint;  to  its  own  : 
AVhieh  wields  the  world  with  never- wearied  love, 
Sustains  it  from  beneath,  and  kindles  it  above. 


{70 


XLIII 

lie  is  a  portion  of  the  loveliness 
Whieh  onee  he  made  more  lovely  :  he  doth  bear    3S0 
His  part,  while  the  one  Spirit's  i)lastie  stress 
Sweeps  through  the  dull  dense  world,  compelling 

there 
All  new  successions  to  the  forms  they  wear  ; 
Torturing  the  unwilling  dross  that  checks  its  flight 
To  its  own  likeness,  as  each  mass  may  bear  ;        3sr) 
And  bursting  in  its  beauty  and  its  might 
From  trees  and  beasts  and  men  into  the  Heaven's  light. 


XLIV 

The  splendours  of  the  firmament  of  time 
May  be  eclipsed,  but  arc  extinguished  not: 
Like  stars  to  their  appointed  height  they  climb,   3'JO 
And  death  is  a  low  mist  which  cannot  blot 
The  brightness  it  may  veil.    When  lofty  thought 
Tiifts  a  young  heart  above  its  mortal  lair. 
And  love  and  life  contend  in  it,  for  what 
Shall  be  its  earthly  doom,  the  dead  live  there.      395 
And  move  like  winds  of  light  ou  uaik  ana  sioiniy  air. 


211 


.iDo.y.iis 


M.V 


>',    \ 


'•"'"■  inli.Mih.is  of  iinfullillr.l  r,.,i..wi, 

1^'sr  Ihmm  tluMr  tlnoM..s.  iM.ilt  iM.n.n.l  Mortal  thought, 
I'.ir  III  tlu"  I  iiaj)|.:m.„t.    Cl.attertuM 


400 


ii<'se  i.al,.,  his  sol.-imi  a,-.,.,y  l,a,l  i,„t 
^<t  fa.K',1  tV,,ni  l.iiu:   >lAur\,  as  h,,.  f(.u'.|,t 
An.l  as  1...  l-ll.  un.l  as  1,,.  iiv..,|  au.l  lovvd, 
."^ill.liiurly  mil, I,  ,.i  spiiit    without  s,,„t, 
Ai-OM.;   aii.l   Lucai,,  in   liis  ,leath  a|.|,rov,..l  : 
OU.v.oM  as  thry  ros..  shrank  like  a  thin^^'  .vjuovc-,1.    lur, 


XLVI 

Ami  nia.iy  nioiv,  uhos,-  nanu-s  on  earth  are  dark, 

J{iit  ujiosu  transM.ittiMl  ,.tHii..n,v  .-ann-.t  die 

So  Ion- as  fin.  oMtlivcs  th..  pan-nt  spark, 

i^•s.^  rol)..(l  in  .la/zjiiiu-  iininortality. 

"Thou  art  Itt'coiiic  as  one  of  us."  tliov  crv  ; 

'^  It  was  for  th...'  yon  kin-h.ss  sphere"  has' Ioul' 

Sw 


no 


^wung  hhn.l  in  iiiias.'cii,|,Ml  iiialL'sfv 


Silent  alone  an-.id  an  Heaven  of  S(mi..-. 
Assume  thy  win^r^^a  thr.uie,  thou  Vesper  of  our  thron..-! ' 


XI. VII 


\\  h.)  mourns  for  Adonais  ?    Oh,  eonie  forth,        ^  15 
i^ond  wreteh:  and  know  thyself  and  him  ariHit 
Uasi,  with  thy  pantin-  soul  the  p.-n-lulous  Karth  • 
As  from  a  centre,  dart  tliy  spirit's  light 
Hoyond  all  w..rlds,  until  its  spaeious^mio-ht 
Satiate  the  void  eirenmferenee  :   then  slnink        .|_'u 
Kven  to  a  noint  within  our  day  and  ni-ht: 
And  keep  thy  heart  li.^ht.  lest'  it  make'thee  sink 
When  li,,pe  has  kindled   hope,  and    lured  thee  to  the 


•I(l() 


MS 


215 


.\i.\  III 

Or  "■<>  to    K I',   wliicll   is  tin;  sclMllrlue, 

(  )li.  lint  ot'  Imn,  lull  nt'  uiir  joy  :    'l  i-  iniUL;lit  426 

'rii.it  :im'H.  ciniiii    s,  and  religions,  tlu;ro 
Lii;  1)111  iril  ill  till-  ravaL,^'  tlicy  liavi-  \\rmi<;ht; 
For  such  as  lie  can  h'lid,  —  tln-y  l»oi  row  not 
(lioi'v  1  rom  tlnof  who  iiiaih-  ihf  world  thrir  prey: 
And  hi;  is  t^athnt'd  to  thr  kiii-s  of  thoii'^lit  KiO 

Who  wa^cd  contfiition  with  their  tiiiit/s  decay, 
And  of  the  past  are  all  lliat  eaiiiiot  pass  away. 


•110 


i.-l" 


XI. I\ 

(Jo  thou  to  lionic,  —  at  oiu't;  the  I'aradise, 
The  <;iave.  the  city,  and  the  wilderness;  l.'it 

And  where  its  wrecks  like  shattered  niouiitains  rise, 
And  tloweriiiL;-  weeds,  and  fra^^•ant  coiises  dress 
The  bones  of  Desolut  ion's  nakedness. 
Pass,  till  the  Spirit  of  the  spot  shall  lead 
Thy  f<)otstei>s  to  a  slope  of  ^I'cen  access, 
Where,  like  an  infant's  smile,  ovtr  the  dead  110 

A  li"ht  of  laiiuhiii';  flowers  along  the  grass  is  spread  ; 


-l_'0 


And  gray  walls  moulder  round,  on  wliicli  dull  Time 
Feeds,  like  slow  fire  uj)on  a  hoary  brand ; 
And  one  keen  pyrainiil  with  wedge  sublime, 
ravilioning  the  dust  of  him  who  planned  415 

This  refuge  for  his  memory,  doth  stand 
Jiike  tlaiiK^  transforuied  to  marble:   and  beneath 
A  licld  is  spread.  '>n  which  a  newer  batid 
Have  pitched  in  Heaven's  smile  their  camp  of  dc,->th. 
Welcoming     him    we    lose    with    scart'e-extinguished 
brealii.  ^"'* 


216 


ADONAIS 


I  i 


I 'J  J 


LI 
Ilt'ie  pause:  t^ieso  graves  are  all  too  youni;  as  yet 
To  have  outgrown  the  sorrow  which  consigned 
]t>  cliarge  to  each  ;  and  if  the  seal  is  set, 
Here,  on  one  fountain  of  a  mourning  mind, 
liieak  it  not  thou  I   too  surely  shalt  thou  ilnd        45^ 
Thine  own  well  full,  if  thou  returnest  home, 
Of  tears  and  gall.    From  the  world's  hitter  wind 
Seek  shelter  in  the  shadow  of  the  tond). 
What  Adonais  is,  why  fear  we  to  become? 

LII 

^  The  One  remains,  the  many  change  and  pass;     -100 
Heaven's    light  for   ever   shines.    Earth's   shadows 

f:y : 
Life,  like  a  dome  of  many-coloured  glass, 
Stains  the  white  radiance  of  eternity, 
Until  Death  tramples  it  to  fragments.  —  Die,       4(14 
If  thou  wouldst  he  with  that  winch  tliou  dost  seek  I 
Follow  where  all  is  fled  !  —  Rome's  azure  sky. 
Flowers,  ruins,  statues,  nmsic,  words,  are  weak 

The  glory  they  transfuse  with  fitting  truth  to  s})eak. 

LIII 
"Why  linger,  why  turn  back,  why  shrink,  my  heart? 
Thy  hopes  are  gone  l>efore  :  from  all  things  here   470 
They  have  departed  :  thou  shouldst  now  depart ! 
A  light  is  past  from  the  revolving  year, 
And  man,  and  woman  ;  and  what  still  is  dear 
Attracts  to  crush,  repels  to  make  thee  wither. 
The  soft  sky  smiles,  the  low  wind  whispers  near  :    475 
'  oh.  hasten  thither! 


'T  is  Adonais 


calls 


ADONAIS 


217 


LIV 

That  Li-^lit  whose  smile  kindles  the  Universe, 
Tliat  lieauty  in  which  all  thini^^s  work  and  move, 
That  lieiieiiiction  whieh  the  eclipsing  curse  4S0 

Of  hirth  can  (luench  not,  that  sustaininj};  Love 
AVhich,  throuuh  the  web  of  bein-;'  blindly  wove 
liy  man  and  beast  and  earth  and  air  and  sea, 
liiirns  brij;ht  or  dim,  as  each  are  mirrors  of 
The  tire  for  wliich  all  thirst,  now  beams  on  me,     485 
Consuming  the  last  clouds  of  cold  n)ortality. 

LV 

The  breath  whose  might  I  have  invoked  in  song 
Descends  on  me :  my  spirit's  bark  is  driven 
Far  from  the  shore,  far  from  the  trend. ling  throng 
"Whose  sails  were  never  to  the  temi)est  given  ;     4UU 
The  massy  earth  and  spher(jd  skies  are  riven! 
I  :im  borne  darkly,  fearfully,  afar: 
AVhilst  burning  through  the  iinuost  veil  of  Heaven, 
The  soul  of  Adonais,  like  a  star, 
Beacons  from  the  abode  where  the  Eternal  are.       495 
1S21. 


I  iM 


218 


'/ 


LINES 


A    DIKGE 


Rough  wind,  tliat  luoimost  loud 

Grii'f  too  sad  for  soui;' ; 
Wild  wind,  when  ;  -.dlen  cloud 
Knells  all  the  ni^ht  lonu^ ; 
Sad  storm,  whose  tears  are  vain, 
Hare  woods,  whose  branches  strain, 
Deep  caves  and  dreary  main. 

Wail  for  the  world's  wrouir ! 


EPITAPH 

Thksf,  are  two  friends  whose  lives  were  undivided 
So  let  their  memory  be,  now  thi-y  have  glided 
Under  the  grave  :  let  not  their  bones  be  i)arted, 
For  their  two  hearts  in  life  were  singlediearted. 

18li2. 


LINES 

When  the  lamp  is  shattered, 
The  light  in  the  dust  lies  dead  ; 

When  the  cloud  is  scattered, 
The  rainbow's  glory  is  shed  ; 

When  the  lute  is  broken, 
Sweet  tones  are  remend)ered  not ; 

When  the  lips  have  spoken, 
Loved  accents  are  soon  foi'ti^ot. 


As  music  and  spleiKhmr 
Survive  not  liie  lamp  and  the  lute, 


10 


I 


\      V 


SONG 

The  heart's  echoes  render 
No  .song  when  tht;  sj)irit  is  jnnte, — 

No  sonjjf  but  s;ul  dirges, 
Like  the  wincl  throu^ii  ;i  ruined  cell, 

Or  tlie  mournful  surges 
That  ling  the  dead  seaman's  knell. 


219 


When  lieaits  have  oiu-e  mingled, 
Love  first  leaves  the  well-built  nest ; 

The  weak  one  is  singled 
To  endure  what  it  once  possest.  20 

O  Love  I   who  bewailest 
The  frailty  of  all  things  here, 

Why  choose  you  the  frailest 
For  your  cradle,  your  home,  and  your  bier? 

Its  passions  will  rock  thee,  25 

As  the  storm--  roek  the  ravens  on  high: 

Blight  reason  will  nioek  thee, 
Like  the  sun  from  a  wintry  sky. 

From  thy  nest  every  rafter 
Will  rot,  and  thine  eagle  home  30 

Leave  thee  naked  to  laughter, 
When  leaves  fall  and  cold  winds  come. 

1S22. 


SONG 


l-KOM  "CIIAKLES  TlIK  FIRST 

A  WIDOW  l)ird  sate  mourniiiir  for  her  love 

ITpoii  a  wintry  bough  ; 
Till'  fio/cn  wind  crept  on  above, 

The  freezing-  stream  below. 


,i 


f 


tli 


i^ 


jll  I 


"\    t 

I 


220 


TO  JANE 

There  was  no  leaf  ujioii  the  forest  bare, 

5 

No  flower  upon  the  ^romul, 

And  little  motion  in  tiie  air 

Except  the  niill-wheers  sound. 

1.V.>1>. 

TO  JANE 

THK    INVITATION 

liKST  and  brightest,  eonie  away, 

Fairer  far  than  this  fair  day, 

Whiuh,  like  thee,  to  tliose  in  sorrow, 

C(>nies  to  bid  a  sweet  good-morrow 

To  the  rout^h  Year  just  awake 

In  its  cradle  on  the  brake. 

The  brightest  hour  of  unborn  Spring, 

Through  the  winter  wandering, 

Found,  it  seems,  the  halcyon  morn 

To  hoar  February  born  ; 

Bending  from  Heaven,  in  azure  mirth, 

It  kissed  the  forehead  of  the  earth, 

And  smiled  upon  the  silent  sea. 

And  bade  the  frozen  streams  be  free, 

And  waked  to  music  all  their  fountains. 

And  breathed  u|ion  the  frozen  mountains. 

And  like  a  i)rophetess  of  May 

Strewed  flowers  upon  the  barren  way. 

Making  the  wintry  world  appear 

Like  oiui  on  whom  thou  smilest,  dear. 


10 


15 


20 


Awav,  awav,  from  men  and  towns, 
To  tlie  wild  wood  anil  the  downs; 

Where  the  soul  need  not  repress 


10 


15 


20 


TO  JANE  221 

Its  iTmsio,  lest  it  should  not  find  25 

An  echo  in  another's  mind, 

"NVliilo  the  touch  of  Nature's  art 

Ilannonizcs  heai't  to  heart 

I  leave  this  notice  on  my  door 

Foi' each  acrustcmed  visitor: —  30 

''  I  am  irone  into  th(.'  fichls 

To  take  what  tiiis  sweet  liour  yields. 

Keflectiou.  you  may  come  to-morrow, 

Sit  hy  the  fireside  of  Soirow, 

You  with  the  un])aid  hill.  Despair,  35 

You,  tiresome  verse-reciter,  Care, 
I  will  ]Kiy  you  in  the  grave. 
Death  will  listen  to  your  stave. 
H\]H'ctation,  too,  he  oif  I 

To-day  is  for  itscdf  enough.  40 

Hope,  in  l>ity,  mock  not  Woe 

With  smiles,  nor  follow  where  I  go; 

Long  having  lived  on  thy  sweet  food, 

At  lenjith  ^  find  one  moment  good 

After  long  pain  — with  all  your  love,  45 

This  you  never  told  me  of." 

Radiant  Sister  of  the  Day, 

Awake,  arise,  and  come  away! 

To  the  wild  woods  and  the  jduins. 

And  the  ])0(ds  whei'c  winter  rains  50 

Image  all  their  roof  of  leaves, 

Where  the  ])ine  its  garland  weaves 

Of  sapless  green,  and  ivy  dun. 

Kound  stems  th;it  never  kiss  the  sun, 

"Where  the  lawns  and  ])astures  be  55 

And  the  sandhills  of  the  sea, 

'v"n  iiej'c  tiie  MU'itmg  iioar-lnol  vveis 

The  daisy-star  that  never  sets. 


f; 

ill 


j 

i 

,1 


I    'i 


ooo 


TO  J  AXE 

And  \viii(]-llo\v(Ts,  and  vioh    "., 

^^  hicli  yet  join  not  st-cnt  to  line, 

Clown  the  pair  \r:iv  weak  and  new; 

AN'licn  tliM  iili;lit  is  Irt'i  lii'liind 

In  the  dfi'|»  cast,  dun  mid  liliiul. 

And  lli<!  I)lnc  noon  is  over  ns, 

And  tliL'  niullitndiniMis 

J)iliow.s  ninnniir  al  oiif  feet, 

^\  iioro  tlie  ('artii  and  ocean  meet, 

And  all  tliinn's  socin  only  one. 

In  the  universal  Sun. 

F'-bniary,  lM'2. 

TO  JAXK 

THK    i;i:(  OLLIX  IIOX 


Now  tlie  last  day  of  many  days, 
All  licautiful  and  l>rii;lit  as  thou, 
The  loveliest  and  the  last,  is  dead, 
Rise,  Memory,  and  write  its  ])raise  ! 
Up,  do  thy  wonted  work  I  come,  trace 

The  epitaph  of  <;l()iy  Hcd, 
For  now  the  lOavth  has  chan<;ed  its  face, 
A  frown  is  on  the  Heaven's  hi-ow. 


60 


65 


II 

We  wandered  to  the  Pine  Forest 
That  skirts  the  Ocean's  foam, 

The  lightest  wind  was  in  its  nest, 
Tilt?  tempest  in  its  home. 

riie  whispering!;  waves  were  half  asleep. 
I'he  clouds  were  gone  to  play, 


10 


TO  JASE 

And  oi\  tlio  Ixisoin  of  the  (loe]> 
The  smile  of  lleiiven  l;iy  : 

It  seeiiic;!  ;is  if  the  lioiir  weio  one 
Sent  from  beyond  the  skies, 

Which  seiitti'i-ed  from  aliove  the  sun 
A  liuht  of  l*;ir;idise. 


223 
15 


•JO 


III 

We  i)ause(l  an. id  the  pines  that  stood 

The  <i^iants  of  the  waste, 
Tortnred  by  storms  to  shapes  as  rude 

As  ser])ents  interlaced, 
And  soothed  by  every  azure  breath  25 

That  under  lieaven  is  blown, 
To  harmonies  and  hues  beneath, 

As  tender  as  its  own  ; 
Now  all  the  tree-toj)s  hiy  asleep, 

Like  tireen  waves  on  the  sea,  30 

As  still  as  in  the  silent  deep 

The  ocean-woods  may  be. 

IV 

How  eabn  it  was!  — the  silence  there 

Vty  such  a  chain  was  bound. 
That  even  the  busy  woodpecker  35 

Made  stiller  by  her  sound 
The  inviolable  (juietness ; 

The  breath  of  peace  we  drew 
With  its  soft  motion  made  not  less 

The  calm  that  round  us  grew.  40 

There  seemed  from  the  remotest  seat 

Of  tl»e  widt.'  mountain  waste, 
'y'ii  flw.  soft  flowo!'  beneath  our  feet, 

A  mairie  circle  traced  ; 


224 


TO  JANE 


;t 


A  .sj)Irit;  iiitorfiiscd  around,  4fi 

A  tlirilliii;^  silent  lift;, 
To  inoineiit.'U'v  ])»'ace  it  l)oun(l 

Our  mortal  nattiru's  strife;  — 
And  still  I  ft'lt  tilt'  ciMitre  of 

Tilt'  inai;ic  fiictlf  tlicTo  50 

Was  oim  fair  b'onn  that  filled  with  love 

The  lifeless  atmosphere. 


We  paused  beside  the  pools  that  lie 

Uiuhn'  the  forest  bou^h  : 
Each  seemed  as  't  were  a  little  skv  56 

(iiilfeci  in  a  world  below; 
A  firmament  of  purple  light, 

Wliifh  in  the  ilarU  earth  lay. 
More  boundlt'ss  than  the  dei)th  of  night, 

And  purer  than  the  day  ;  60 

In  whieh  tluj  lovely  forests  grew, 

As  in  the  upper  air, 
More  perfect  both  in  shape  and  hue 

Than  any  spreading  there. 
There  lay  the  glade,  the  neighbouring  lawn,    f>5 

And  through  the  dark  green  wood 
The  wliite  sun  twinklinj;  like  the  dawn 

Out  of  a  speckled  cloud. 
Sweet  views  which  in  our  world  above 

Can  never  well  be  seen,  70 

Were  imaged  by  the  water's  love 

Of  that  fair  forest  green. 
And  all  was  interfused  beneath 

With  an  F>lysiaii  glow. 
An  atmosphere  v/ithout  a  breath,  75 

A  softer  day  below. 


i 

I 


W  ITU   A   Gl'lTAU 


005 


4ry 


50 


55 


Like  oiu'  l)el()Vt'(l,  tlie'seeiit'  li:ul  lent 

To  tlit>  (lark  water's  liivast 
Its  ovt'vv  It'af  and  liiieaiiu'iit 

With  iiKiri'  than  trutii  (>xi)rt'3t, 
Until  an  envious  wind  ciept  l»y, 

Like  an  nnweleoine  llionj^lit, 
Which  from  the  mind's  too  faithful  eye 

Blots  one  dear  imaj^e  out. 
Thoujih  Thou  art  ever  fair  anil  kind, 

And  forests  ever  <;reen, 
Less  oft  is  ]>eaee  in  Shelley's  uilnd, 

Than  calm  in  waters  seen. 
February,  182-*. 


80 


85 


WITH    A   GITTAR 


GO 


f,5 


70 


75 


TO  JANE 

Ariel  to  Miranda  :  —  Take 
This  slave  of  Music,  for  the  sake 
Of  him,  who  is  the  slave  of  thee; 
And  teach  it  all  the  harmony 
In  which  thou  canst,  and  only  thou, 
Make  the  deliuhted  spirit  glow, 
Till  joy  denies  itself  again. 
And.  too  intense,  is  turned  to  pain. 
For  1)V  ])t(iiuissiou  and  command 
Of  thine  own  Prince  Ferdinand, 
Poor  Ariel  sends  this  silent  token 
Of  more  than  ever  can  be  spoken  ; 
Your  guardian  s])irit,  Ariel,  who 
From  life  to  life  must  still  ]mrsue 

i  •  Hix.     HIT  J  •;  •!  • '-.  —  T-,     • 

Can  Ariel  ever  find  his  own. 


10 


15 


■^Il 


(     1 


220  11////  .1  i.L  true 

I'loiii  I'rosjxTo's  t'luliaiitfd  cull, 

As  the  mi^lity  voisrs  tell. 

To  tlic  iliKiiif  of  Naples  he 

Lit  voii  o't'i'  tilt;  tiackless  sea,  2f 

MittiiiL;'  oil,  your  [row  Uft'ore, 

Like  a  liviiii^j  inetror. 

Wlieii  you  (lie,  the  sih-iit  Moon, 

In  her  interli\nar  swomi. 

Is  not  sadder  in  iier  cell  2A 

Than  deseited  Ariel  : 

AViien  yon  live  aL;ain  i»n  earth, 

Like  an  iinsoeii  star  ot  liirtli, 

Ariel  ijnides  you  oer  tlie  sea 

Of  life  from  your  nativity,  30 

Many  ehaiiL;('s  have  heeii  run 

Since  Ferdinand  and  you  hei,Min 

^  oiii-  course  of  love,  and  Aiiid  still 

Has  tracked  your  steps  and  servoil  your  will. 

Now  in  humhler,  happier  lot,  35 

This  is  all  lenitMuhered  not; 

And  now,  alas  I   the  poor  sprite  is 

Ini[)risoiicd  for  some  fault  of  his 

In  a  body  like  a  grave  ;  — 

From  you  he  only  dares  to  crave,  40 

F'>r  his  service  and  his  sorrow, 

A  smile  to-day,  a  som;-  t()-iiiorrow. 

The  artist  who  this  idol  wrought 

To  echo  all  harmonious  thought. 

Felled  a  tree,  whih;  on  the  steep  46 

Tile  woods  Were  in  their  winter  sleep, 

lioeked  in  that  i-epose  divine 

......--.,._...^    ill. •^11111;::^. 

And  dreaming,  some  of  autumn  past, 


WITH  A  ariTAii  2-n 

Ami  sniiiu  of  spring-  ;iii|ii();icliiiii;  fast,  .')() 

And  soiiie  of  April  huils  and  slioWtTs, 

Autl  soiiit'  of  solids  ill  ,liilv  bowers. 

And  all  iif  lovi- ;   ;uid  sd  this  tici", — • 

(  )  that  such  our  (hath  iiiav  Im-  I  — 

Dit.'d  ill  s1l'c|),  and  felt  no  pain,  f).') 

To  liv(!  ill  happier  tmni  aL;aiii  : 

From  which,  hciicath  Heaven^  fairi'st  star, 

Tilt!  artist  wroiiL;lit  this  loved  (iuitar, 

And  tan:;ht  it  jnstly  to  reply. 

To  all  who  (picstion  shilt'iiliy,  (jU 

In  lannnai;t!  i;cntlo  as  thine  own  ; 

W  hisperiiijT  in  eiiainoiired  tone 

Sweet  oracles  .>f  woods  and  dells. 

And  siiiiiiner  winds  in  sylvan  cell-^  ; 

For  it  had  learnt  all  harmonies  (if) 

Of  the  ])lains  and  of  the  skies. 

Of  the  forests  and  tin;  mountains. 

And  th(!  many-voiced  fountains; 

The  (deari'st  echoes  of  the  hills. 

The  softest  notes  of  fallinj^-  rills,  70 

Till     uelodies  of  birds  and  bees. 

The  Minrninring  of  sninmer  soas. 

And  patterinj;  rain,  and  breathintj  dew, 

Anil  airs  of  evenini;':   and  it  knew 

I  liat  seldomdieard  inysterioiis  soniul  75 

A\  hicli,  driven  on  its  diurnal  round, 

As  it  floats  tlironnh  boundless  dav, 

Onr  world  eidvindles  on  its  way. 

All  this  it  knows,  but  will  not  tell 

To  those  who  cannot  (piestion  well  SO 

The  spii'it  that  inhabits  it  : 

It  talks  according'  to  the  wit 

Of  its  companions  ;  and  no  more 


I 


I  I 


i 


iri 


I 


2:28  Willi  A  (.1  iT.iii 

Is  licard  tli;in  li;is  Ih-oii  t't-lt  ht-foro 
l>\   lla)->('  who  tfiiipt  it  to  lictiay 
'riu.'se  Sfcict.^  of  ail  elilcr  (la\. 
l»iit,  swcclly  as  its  aiiswei^  will 
Flatter  liaiids  ot'  |ii  rt'cct   >Uill, 
It  kfcps  it.-,  hi^lit'st.  Iiolit'st  tone 
J' or  our  liflovt'il  Frifiid  alone. 


85 


00 


1 
I 

j 

;l 

i 

1 

\ 

^      V 

NO'IKS 

v\r,r. 

I    Stanzas       April,   1814. 

Src     lMl|i.i|iHii..|i,   |i;i;r<'  \\\i.      "'I'lir   1  i<:i  111  if  ul   '  St  ailZilS,' 

(laicil  Aiiiil.  Isll.'  rciiil  liLi'  .'i  t.itii:i-i,t  i>l'  -nrmu,  llii« 
Ilirili\cs  III  uhlch  ;ir('  Mlplilnd  li\  .Slirlli\>  atit  i(i|);ilc(l 
farewell  lo  Hrackliell.  ami  In-  n  i  nni,  al  I  lie  call  ipI  diltv,  to  !i 
loveles- inline.  ...  it  i- micm lllie.■^>  ami  -larle-»-  iiiiihl  ill  llic 
pdi'lll  lliirlit  uilli  it-  till  l:ilieli(ii\' elili  ipf  life  and  -lreii;_'t  ii; 
ailil  .at  .-^llell  111  liiilir  the  !i\er  i~  -Ulllllinliril  III  lilll  iare- 
Well  Id  a  relume  a.>  dear  a>  I  In  -  al  i  Ir.K  I.  lull  w  i  -  t"  SlieileV, 
and  III  l(i\ed  lilies  a.«.  ;.'elil  li'  ;iiid  dilieaii-  in  >\  iii|  lal  li\'  as  lie 
liad  liiUlid  ill  llailiel  I'miin  ille  and  (  ui  nelia  luilier."  — 
DdWden's  f.i/f  (,j  sill  Ih  //,  1.  111. 
'J  To  Coleridge. 

••'llic  |i(iciii  Ik  Lriniiinu'.  '<•.  Ihrre  are  s|iiril>  in  the  air,' 
was  addre---ed  in  idea  Id  CnlelidLri'.  wlimii  In'  lie\er  l^lle\^  ; 
and  at  wluise  cliaraeler  lie  Cduld  iilii\'  L'Ue--  iliiperfect  iv, 
tlirdut;li  Ills  wriiimrs,  and  aeeniinis  he  iieard  of  him  troiii 

Millie  wild  LiK  \V  hilil  well,  lie  le^'arded  hi.-  chaiil-'e  (if  (ipin- 
idlis  as  rather  an  act  df  will  tliali  cdii'  ietiiiii,  and  lielieMil 
that  in  his  inner  heart  he  Wdiild  lie  hail  lied  li\-  what  Shelley 
considi-red  the  hetler  and  helier  asjiirat  idiis  df  hi.--  Sdutli." 
—  Mrs.  Shelle\-'s  iiiite.  "1  ha\e  dfleii  i  |il(-l  idiied  whether 
the  IKielll  .  .  .  ha.-  refeli-liee  las  Mrs.  .•<lielle\-  di'clares  it 
lias)  to  CdleridLTe.  (ir  uhet  lier  it  was  iidl  rather  addressed 
in  a  de-pdiideiit  iiidcd  liy  Shelley  to  his  own  s[)irit."  — 
Ddudell'.-  /.('/(   ()/  Slitll'l/.  I,    17'-'. 

3  'jr)-;i().  -Note  the  ri-feieiiees  in  this  stanza  to  Cdleridiie'.s 
Ifhtic  of  the  Aiicirtif  Mari/ur.  —  "irldrv  of  the  iiiooii," 
"Nifiht's  iihosts  and  dreams  "  "fdul  lieiid."  Tlie.se  seuni  to 
iiie  d|)pd-ed  td  Professor  l)ow(kn's  ei inject uro. 

To  Wordsworth. 

Shellev's  early  rejiard  for  Wordsworth  slowlv  lessened. 
The  elder  piiet,  at  first  elofiuent  Iv  lilieral  in  his  pdlitieal 
utterance,  ln'canie  cdiiservativi'  witli  years,  and  seemed  to 
Shellev  td  lie  lietrayinu  his  nolile.-t  human  impulses.  In 
ISI'.I  .Shellev  wrote  his  satire  on  Wdrdswortli, /'c/tr  Bill 
tlif  Thinl.    ('(.  Ui(iwniiiL''s  77(1    /.(>.<t  f^nulir. 

4  A  Summer  Evening  Churchyard. 

See  Introduction,  pi'pe  \\\v.  "The  summer eveninir  that 
.suiifiesteil  to  him  the  y>oein  written  in  the  churchyard  of 
I,echlade,  occurred  durinj:  his  vdy.me  up  tiie  Thaiiie-.  in 
the  autumn  of  l.Sl.').  He  had  heeii  advi-ed  hv  a  pliy-ieiaii 
to  live  as  nuK'h  as  jiossilile  in  the  dpeii  air;  and  a  Idrtni'^ht 
f.f  ;i  i.j.jirht  warm  .Iu!\'  was  .-iient  in  'raeini:  the  Thaines  to 
its  source."  —  Mrs.  .Sliellev's  note. 


230 


NOTES 


'  i 


[  .S._   I.    C\.    T,'  .\n/hf.   11.    1(1.    11. 

•■'       -•'  •'/.   Ni'ic  111.'   |)o,t'-   i;i.|iiriit    [iiviuiiniiidiis  of  i-,'irly 
<l''.'i''f.     '^i' '   IliM'D.liui  iu;i.  pp.   WW  ali.l  \l.x. 

.')  Lines  ("  The  cold  earth  slept  below  "). 

"  IliriT  c-in   |)(.   no  L^-i'at    r;i>lint>-,"  .-.'iv-.s    I'urninn    "iti 
suiri:i;-!in-  tliat   the  .-.iil,j,.ct  <,i   tl„.  p,,riii   i-  il„.  ,|,.,.|ii,  ,  ,■ 

li;itlirl     Slirll,\-,    wlin    ilroUIlcd    hcl-cil'    (,11    ihc    !tlli    (.1     \,-. 
^•'•I"l"  I',    l^ll'-      li:   Ili.-il   r::>,-.   /,^/.;  -ii,,!  ,-,,,-, /)  l,,,ir  w.vr  11-.    1 

.MS  u  (ii-.-iii>c.   Ihini.'i  -  hair  li.ivini:  liccii  a  li-ht    l.idwn  " 

.s  Hymn  to  Intellectual  Beauty. 

ii.-i.-cd  nil  III,.  I'latniiir  'Inciriii.'  nf  .Miprcnic  l.cautv.  .^fi' 
tlic  siici'ch  (if  Didtiiiia  in  I'lalo'-  S  /i,i /„,s:  ,n„.  ■■'Vlw  /f'/nni 
to  hit,  lirrtiinl  Ii,  ,1,1/1/  wa-  cnMccivi.,!  (liitiiiiT  lii,  \(,va"-c 
rniiii,]  111,,  lake  witli  l.dnl  llvtun."  .Mr-.  S|„.|l,.s-'..  ni.U'. 
"A  I'n-,  lie,..  ,„•  it-;  ni.liaiit  wi  awhil  shadow,  li,aiiiit.<  and' 
startli-  and  wavlavs  us  in  all  thai  i-  I  .raiil  il'iil,  Mil, lime,  or 
luT(,ic  in  the  \\(,rld  \viihniii  us  ,  r  in  the  \v,,rKl  within;  to 
till.-  w,.  d,.d:,';,tc  our  p(,\\(  r-  in  all  hi-li  inniiu'iits  of  jov  or 
.jiM'l'atloU;  and  when  the  cc-ta-v  has  sunk  aiul  tlu^'jov 
•  Ki.-  Iail,(l.  .-till  in  a  calincr.  jiurcr  Iniip.r,  it  mav  licroiiic 
th,'  li;il,it  of  (,ur  .-(,ul  to  follow  u;ion  li,-  Hack  (,f 'this  idea! 
J.ovclin,.-s.  until  in  a  tniaMnf  wr  parlak"  of  its  iiu'i"-c  '' 
—  l)o\\d,.|  ■<    /.//, .  II.  ;il. 

^       •"--■''',•       .'I'l'i'    I'fi'itv  of    li(,liii,--  and    the    Ik, lines.,    of 
I'c.-iuiv      ,-,iid  ,<i,ln,\-  l.aiiiiT,  '•iiu'an  (.lu'  tliin<r,  l.urn  as  one 

nrc.  shine  a-  (ilic  li.'iit   " 

■l'.»-.")_\   Ci.  A /„.•:/,„■.  II.  IS    K). 

T)!.  '■|,U!■suillL^"   The  filial    "i:"  is    slurivd,  a    romnion 
practice  m  btth   iji.daud   and   the  ,>outhcrn   St.-itcs      Ci 
Arrthuso    II.  ,-,_),  ,^;V;    .1/,,,,/  nianr.  11.  1()7,  1U«);    Promdhvus 
I  tihntiH'l.  1.  1,  Ki;;.  1. 

10  .")!•.   Cf.  /V„„„//,,„.,  CnlM>un<l,  I\'    l,"):? 

1 1  Mont  Elanc. 

Thi-  pociii.  like  Ihr  Ill/mil  t<,  lut,Jl,,ti(aJ  Urniitu  and 
l.niis  11  ntl,  n  ,,ni,,n,/  /A,  Eii,,,,,),  <ni  IItll.<.  ~-  iiulecd,  like  nil 
oi  >ii..ll,.\- >  p,„.ii,.  th.ii  touch  tiic-uhicct  even  rciiiotclv  -  - 
wiiiie-M.s  th,.  unilv  of  all  nature,  and  it.-  i.leal  si.niific.iiuv 
■N.n.-il.le  nature  is  l,ut  a  world  ,,f  ,-mii1,o1s  iroveriU'd  aluavs 
i'V  a  .Nature  heliuul  ii.atiirc.  1,\-  a  .Min.l  aiul  Power 
•■  lUaiiuir.  scrt'.'ic  .'iM.!  inacccssihlL'." 

"M<inl  lihiiir  was  inspired  l,v  ;,  view  (if  tli.at  m,,un!  liu 
:indi!-surroundin-r  peaks  .and  vallev-,a-  he  lin-vre,l  (,n  I  he 
l^n.-,M,l  Arve-.n  In- \\  av  thioimh  l  !.,■  \'all,'V  ..f  ( 'hani,,uni." 
_  Mr-.  .>^!M'lie\',- ni,ie.  ■■  It  wa-  c,.nip(,-e,l  und,.r  i  he  imni.  - 
•"■'''■  "'iP'-'-ssmtiot  til..  .I.ci,  aid  p,.u,.r[iii  h  elinus  esial,,! 
l'\  ih,"  ohjecis  whicli  it  atti'inpl-  I ,,  ,1,^-,  ,  il ,.  ■  aid  a-  ■■n 
nndi-riphn,'d  ..\ ,  rflnwinir  ,,f   tl'ie   -.ml.    ,v-i-   i't .   cLaim    t,, 

'''I','','"''-'"""   .'".'     'I'l     alleinpl      I,,     iinil.;!,.     li,,.     unlain.aMe 
VvU.HH--     ,,:„i    ni.iec-e.-sibie    M,ieiuiul\-     Iroiu     which     those 


NOTES 


2:n 


I'MII 


h,!on~Slinris,ni   /lir    \nl.    cj   ('i,,ii;,nu  in .  , 

|-_.  |.)  ,,^  'I'l,,.  til, 1,  III  will  li"l''  l!-r  liv'in"licv  wilh  A:.:cli 
S|„l!rv   :.!i.!   mluT   n,lil:,l!rn;   |iort-    l..ll.!i   li,.'   l.!f:i   nl    .-l.vp, 

Si-r   Inlniililfli  'II,  pp-  '"■■  ''•■'  .      ,        ,  ,  •;       ;        / 

in        SI).   Cr.   \\uu\.\\un\,>  -..nnrt,   l.n^jlmd  niul  .s,r,t:,,:(ni:l. 

11  sii  ■■(1:.m1:i1."  ('uti(.'i-lv  niadc:  coiiil'l'-^:  i'i"''>"it.'.  N.it- 
Sli.ll  ■v's  IniMliicss  l-..r  the"  phras/  ■■'lir  lal  carlli.  «  '•  "  ' 
/„  /  ,7,,,/'/,  1.  IS:  ]lii»»i  oj  I'an,  1.  'J(l;  I'mimth  (/,s  (  /;/^"ini(/, 

111.  i,  -li;  IV.  nC).  lu;. 

Ki  To  Constantia.  Singing. 

•nii>  ,..,..„>  ^^a..  uMvr^^vd  1o  Clan,  Jan.-  la.rrnmy, 
ruuluin's  .s.rpdaual.t.r,  and  liu'ii.l  -'t  H..'  >liclk-y.s.  ,v,ic- 
l,a.l  an  rx.vlU'i.t  v.mcc  a.ul  xva>  fVu-l .  f  .uuHcal  instrum.;nt.s 
tlu.'Hi  hvr  scn.se  ..f  tunr  i^  ^ai  '  to  have  Ih'^,  .lcfichait_ 
TIk'  lyric  tcstitics  t.)  SIhIIcv'.-  appnriali.in  ol   thu  .suul  ot 

music. 
17       .Sli.  :>1.  Ci.  KjiipsiirJi'iUi  u,  11.  M.)-l.)f). 
17  Sonnet       Ozymandias.  , 

Structurallv  uncaiiun;  ,il.    Sc  hit  rn,li!ct  ion.  p.  Kiy 
Diodonis,  tlic  r.rcrk  lii-tnvian.  t.lN  U>  Il:at   t he  >t,l  .K   .>f 

(i/'inaihiia^  wa-  tlic  lari:c.-t  in  all  i:.ivpt,ana  Lore  the  m- 

^^i..'„..  to  Kn,.w  v.iiat   1  an,  aiul  wlicic  1  he  l.'i  hnn  ..urpa.-s 

inc  in  -onic  of  mv  cxiiloils.  ^^  .      , 

S.  "haiKl."    The  .-cuiiitor's.    "heart.       liichni-.s. 

IS  Lines  to  a  Critic.  ,     i   i  ...  ,;„ 

This  rcn.on. trance   w,s  doul.tl,-   ,M.,vohc,l   l,v  t.Tt  un 

attacks  npon  the  nnrevi-el  I.':nn  mul  f  ./wu,.  o    wh.ch  :v 

ewcopie.s\vcrcis,sne,l  late  in  1M7.    In  a  1,  t  .er  of  Decen,  ,er 

11    SheUeV  wrote  to  hi-~  ,,nl  .11- her  <  ('.lie-,  who  was  ,llspos,.,l  to 

withdraw  from  the  midertakin-:  -  1  l»-eech  vou  to  re- 
consider the  n,at.er.  lor  vo„v  .^ake  no  less  ,l,:mforn,v 
own.  .\ssnnie  the  hi-.h  and  the  se<-nre  crrotni<l  of  cotini-.e. 
Tl,o  people  who  viMt  voP.r  .-hop.  and  the  wretched  Ky-t 
who  l:ave  his  worthless  custom  to      .me  other  iiook-Malcr, 

are  not  the  ]iul>lic." 
1"  Passage  of  the  Apennines. 

■  Written  pn,hal.lv  in  the  kmelv  nm  ;it   I'letra  Mala,  1    "h 

in  the  Vpemiines.  '.Mis-  ( lairmonfs  jo.irnal.  tonehmir  tins 
;"  peHence  of  the  fravellers.  reni.arks:  •'The  w,nd  >.s  nlway. 
lii'rh    and  it  howls  dismallv.  ' 

«».  ■•lav."    Used,  of  conrse,  for  "li.a"  ow,n-  to  the  a.n- 

straint  of  rhvmi'. 
•JO  Lines  Written  among  the  ,'?^^«!^"^!'",\'."'^.-. ,,.,,  ,,  ,,,,.-, 
■p,,,  ,.,.,„,  ••was  written.     s;„d  .-h.'lleN ,      af  or  ,i  <I.n  s 
oxcnrsion  an.on,'  those  lovelv  .nonntan,s  -Inch  snrro  n  d 

wlvit  was  once  the  ieire.it.  and  \\!:<-r(- !:- !: •.: .     - 

of  Petrarch.    If  a.nvonc  is  incline.l  torond.  iim  the  ni.-vrlion 


232 


XOTES 


pa(;e 


X 


20 


21 

2:5 


21 


(if  the  intro.luctorv  lines,  wliicli  ininsro  fnrtli  tlie  suridon 
n;iicf  (,t  :i  Mate  of  deep  (l..s|,(.ii,lciicv  \,v  tl„.  radiant  visions 
diM'Inscd  hv  thr  sudden  l.nisl  .,f  au  Italian  Minris,-  in 
;iutniun,on  tlie  hi-hest  |)eak  of  t  li(..-,>  d..|i-lit  fnl  mountain^ 
1  can  only  oiler  as  niv  e\eii,-e.  that  tliev  were  not  era-ed  af' 
the  re(|iiest  of  a  dear  friend,  witli  whom  added  vear-^  of 
intercourse  ordv  add  to  ni\-  aiii)relien>i(.n  of  its  \;i'inc  an.l 
who  \v.,uld  lia\c  had  more  ri::hl  than  .•in\-  one  f,,  eoniplain 
that  >lie  has  not  lieen  ahle  (o  evtinizui.-h  in  ine  th  ■  verv 
power  of  dehneatiiiir  sadness."  The  p,„.„,  uas  written  in 
liirffe  p.art  ;it  J:ste,  and.  aecordinij  to  .\h.dwin,  finished  ;it 
•Naples.  .Mrs.  Sh,.ll,.\-  ur-.le  of  !■>(,.;  "We  |o,,k,.,l  from  the 
p;irden  owr  the  wuU^  plain  of  I.omhardv.  I.omided  to  the 
west  l)y  the  f;,r  .Apeimines.  while  to  I  !.,•  ea.M .  the  hori/oii 
was  l(!st  i;i  nn'stv  di-i.anc,.." 

Id.    -A   fine  evai.ipl,.  ,,f  arti-lic  rep.tition. 

»    ''*^-  "^y,';' ''.';■' ,"-■",    -^'"^iii^'   N-nuuelv,    without    direction; 
to.^sul,■r.    (  f.  .\hlt.    1  s  !.>,',  ;<hi.-<.  11.  12  1  1:    ^ 

••Hfll.L:  (It    ril.Mt    lip.in    JMS    Ual'TX     Ilic  r 

(.^Mwci)t,  anil  w.'ltcr  t<i  the  iiarchiii^'  wind, 
Witliijiii   the  iiiccil  of  .-i.irui'  lail.iilidiis  lear." 

'18.  "are."    -Note  the  error  in  s\nt:i\. 

07.  Ami)hitnt(>  was  the  dau<;hter  of  ( )(  "anius  and  T(>thvs 
and  uife  ol  .Xeptune.  ' 

100  s,,.   Coninienl  on  thi^  spl.ndid  picture  is  superfluous 
yet    attention    ni.i\-    l,e    .ailed    to    the  ■• -oniantic"  iiicor- 
poratin.s:  into  n.ati-re  of   mandniilt  .siructures.    Cf    Words- 

'r?'''l'.'%;^""",'/     ""     "''■■^■''■'^'■"^■^''-    nruhj,,ainl    Kmer.^on'.s 
J  lir  f'}-i)h!rrn,  II.  2")  (12. 

100.  Tho  "time"  of  the  poem  is  a  sini:le  dav.  See  aNo 
11.  71-7.?.  20r),  2S.-,,  ;}20-;j2().  Cf.  Urownin-'s  r,;/,.w/„  '.s  Birlh- 
(Uvi  .'ind  I'ippa  Pas.'<cx. 

116.  "his  (pi(^.n."  Prohahlv  a  n-ferenro  to  the  custom 
of  "weddintr  the  .\driatie,"  oriij:in;ited  in  1177  hv  IV. pe 
Alexander  IIT.  After  the  victorv  of  tl:e  V.'iieti'an  -'•allevs 
over  the  C.hihellines,  led  \>y  Otlio.  the  Pope  pre.-ented  the 
Done  Ziani  with  ;i  rinir.  comni;indin>r  him  to  wvn  the  .\dri- 
.'itic  therewith,  thus  testifvintj  the  sea's  siihjection  to  Venice 
as  her  lord  ;ind  master. 

lis.  "his  pre\."  .\  rr.ferenc(>  to  tlH>  apparenth  slow 
sinking  nf  Venice.  TLe  >tii,lent  will  recall  the  fall  df  'he 
ram]\anile  in  1002.  Professor  -Marinelli,  however,  declares 
that  the  northern  .■\driatic  is  slowlv  dr\iny;  up, 'and  (h.at 
the  entire  (hilf  of  Venice  will  I'Ve'ntu.allv  di-ajipe.ar  tli(> 
moan  annual  increase  in  the  delta  of  the  River  Po  h  in"' 
three  tenth';  of  n  mile. 

12:?.  "Ih..  slave  of  slaves."  Austria,  then  rulinn-  Venice 
nrif!  \nrt!^-i"^-  :d!  ':'•  Italv. 

ir)2.   "Celtic  Anarch's."    Prol.ahly  another  reference  to 


NOTES 


233 


PACT 

Austria,  llic  term  Celt  Idiii;  iicinir  apjilird  to  tlic  northcni 
liarliariaiis  ;is  dist  iIlf:^li-^lll■(l   triiiii   tlir    li'miiali-. 
2')        I(i7--W.'),   Slirllc\  ;nlil('i|  I  lii-  pa^-^aL^-  III  I  li.'  Ill  iiriiial  inatiM- 
s('ii|it.    Tlif  i(  Icri'iui'  i~,  ol  cdurM'.  til  lUiDii,  wliii  was  tlicii 
at  \'(iiicc. 

17s   1n;^.  Ct'.  v.ilh  llir-c  liiii'.-  Sli(llrv'>  niiiark   in  a  Icticr 
(()  I'l'at'oc'k:    "That   lie  is  a  threat   jidct,   1  tlniik  tlic  aililir-s 
to  (iccaii  pro\('s.  " 
2(1        1!(.").  "  Scaiiiaii'lr!-."    An  aiicicii'  i-i\(T  near   TroN'. 

l!»li.  "(ii\inc^t    Sliakfsiirair>."     Slic!lc\'    \\a>    nunc    at- 
trac'ti'il  liv  Siiakc.-pcarc  than  Ia'  air.dlliiT  luiiih.sh  wiitir. 
27       22o.   "  lirutal  Crlt."    Sec  note  on  L  !.")_'. 

'S.V.K   ■■  l>.zt'hii."      Jiz/clino    (la     Koniano,     a    ( ihiiit'lhut' 
leader. 

210.   Cf.  CoIcriiiL'c's  L'i„ir  ,,/■  Ihr  An,  i\  III  Manthr,  11.   I'.».")- 
lltS;    .Milton'-  I'nnnlisr  /.,,.-<f,  II.  HIS  ,.y/. 
2S       2s.")-:!n'.   (■)'.  with  tliis  coinruinirlin.r  oi'  ilir  human  spirit 
witli  natural  phcnoincna        an  iinairin.at  i\c  haiiit  of  tiic  lo- 
iiiaiiticists  —  Wordsworth's    Tiiilirii  Ahhif/,  W.  '.tr)-l()-t,  and 
l-'incrson'.s   Jiath   mid   All.   CL    al-o    Aili>niii.s,  l\.  ',i70--',i7s. 
30       '.V^'y-'.^T.^.   ^v  ln'rodiicli(,n,  p.  \l.v. 
.'51   Stanzas  Written  in  Dejection,  near  Naples. 

".\t  tliis  time  Shelley  snlferi'd  fireaily  in  iieallii.  He  l>ut 
liiinseil'  under  the  care  of  a  ineoical  man,  wiio  |iiomi.--'-d 
preat  tliini;s,  and  made  iiim  endure  se\ere  hodily  pain, 
without  anv  ir<'od  resuhs.  Con-tant  and  poiLcnant  phy>ical 
sutTeiiniz;  e\liauste(l  liim,  and  thoiiirh  lie  preserved  the 
api)earanco  of  oheerfnhiess,  and  often  trreatU-  enjoyed  our 
waiiderinjis  in  tiie  en\  irons  of  .Naples,  and  our  exeur.sioiis 
on  it.s  .suimv  sea,  vr\  maiiv  hours  were  passetl  when  his 
thoughts,  shadowed  liy  illiies-,  liei  ame  ;;loomv,  and  then  he 
escaped  to  solitude,  and  in  \'er-cs,  whicii  he  hid  from  fear 
of  woiuuliiiii  me,  |>oured  forth  mor'iid  hut  too  natur.d 
bursts  of  discontent  and  sadness."  —  .Mrs.  Shelley's  note. 
See  Introduction,  p.  xli. 
.■^2  as.  ("f.  Qunn  Mnh.  11.  1,  2  ;  To  \i<jht,  II.  22,  21;  Tenny- 
son's In  M I'/Niirim/i,  1-vric  (18,  stanza  1. 
X\  Lines  to  an  Indian  Air. 

.\  manuscript  copv  of  this  1\  ric  was  found  on  Shellej^'s 
liod\-  after  his  death. 

11.   "ehampak."    I'rol.aMv  jasmine. 
IS.   f'f.  i'.pip'iilrltiduin,  1,  .V.tl. 
;?  1  Love's  Philosophy. 

In  .V(-/r,s  (//((/  (JiKi-if.i  (Janiiarv,   IS(IS')  Mr.  .1.   II.   Dixon 
relati  ■;  this  ])oein  to  a  short    I''reneli  sonfr,  — "  I.es  \-eiits 
haiseiit  les  images. "     -  I'orman. 
Song  --  To  the  Men  of  England. 

.\t  an  opeii-.'iir  ioform  incctiiiu'  held  in  St.  Peter's  I'ii'ld, 

several  casualties  had  occurred.    .Marmist   reports  irached 


234 


notes; 


I'M  IF. 

Slii'lli'>    ;it    I,cL'li(irii,  .•mil   he  .'it    (ir-^t   ;iiiticipatc(l  u   L'ciicnil 

iMlllli-li  rcvnlulinll.  "Il  WM-."  >,i\-s  |)iiA.|tn,  •■|!ic  l;:ir<l- 
sllip-  :i:ii|  -.llllrlllii:-  nf  III,  iirlii-I  M,,i|^  p,,,,)-  |),;,t  (•.■.prcij  11 V 
(•lairii'ii  lii-syiiijial  hv,  ;iiiii  he  1  :i(iUL^Iil  of  iiiiiilisliiiii^lni-ilicni 
a  M'ih'>(,f  popular  .-(ih;:,-  wliirli  slKHilil  ia^piiv  tin  in  \vilii 
lii'ari  and  lidjic.  and  perhaps  awaken  am!  ilincf  t  he  iiiiau'iiia- 
lion  (il  1  lie  icfdrnirr--.  .  .  .  'i'\ir  Si'iii/.-<  <inil  J ',i,  nis  fur  Ihi  M  t  n 
I'j  LiiiiIiukI,  writtrii  in  jsl'.i,  iTiii:.;n(  i|  unpnMi-lird  tinlii 
M'S-cral  vrars  aflir  Slirllrs '<  dcalli,  win  n  li,.'  tir-t  L'lTat 
l)altl('  l(ir  rcloria  liad  liciTi  IniKrlit  and  wim."  -  1 1 . -'So-Ci. 
•■;•">  '.»-l_'.  In  hi-,  \viiiini:n(->  in  hcconi-,  im-  il.r  incnu'iit, 
•I  "pi'pi'lar"  poft,  Shclk'V  has  lot  his  im  laphiirs  .-hilt  for 
t  h('ni-il\  f~. 
'M\  England  in   iSig. 

I.  <lcorL'r   111    iviirm-d  frnni    17(ii)  lo   Is'jl).     Iturini:    the 
last  icn  Wars  Ju'  ua>  Mind,  deal',  and  iiis.iuc,  ni.>  i'ld(_v-t  .son, 
.aitdwai'd  (Iriirm-  l\',  scrvinu'  a.-  I'riiieu  ilc^^vnt. 
'M  Ode  to  the  West  Wind. 

"Tiii>  porni  was  cont-cixTd  and  chii'llv  wiiit'ii  in  a  wood 
that  -  l^iit,-  til,'  Ai-no.  near  l^'iorcnci'.  .and  on  a  da\  \vh -n  1  hat. 
tuinpi'-Miou-  wind,  who-c  tcinp  ■! at 'Ut  is  at  onrc  niiid  and 
Wi  "  ■  'nLT,  \\a-  cciili-clinii-  the  \  a  pour-  wiiich  pour  down  tiio 
'-^  '■■•1  I'aill-.    'Ihrv  l","za;i.  as    1   lo:,'~aW,  a!   .-lui-rt,  with 

■'I  "'It'll  li'inp.-.-t  of  h.ail  .-Mai  la  in .  .at  Irndvd  liv  th;i!  in.urni- 
licriit^  thundcr.and  JiLiiii  niiiL^  ixculiar  to  t  hi  ( 'isaliiiiir  regions, 
■■'i'lic  i>hcnoiiHaioii  aUudcd  to  at  tlir  conclu.- ion  of  ih' 
third  stan/,i  i-  w  11  knov.ii  to  naturali>i<.  ■I'lic  \i  jactation 
at  the  I'oltoin  of  the  .-c'l,  of  ii\crs.  and  ol  lake-,  svinpat  liizcs 
with  th.al  of  the  l.and  in  thi-  ch.inac  of  >ca  on-,.ii]d  is  con- 
siMiucntiv  influcnwd  liythe  winds  whic-li  aiinoiiiKv  it.''  — 
Shcllcv's  Holr. 

"  Hannoni/inir  under  a  coninion  idea  the  forre--  of  ox- 
teriiai  nature  and  the  p;i,--ii'n  of  tlie  writer'.-  indi\iihial 
iicart,  tlie  stanzas,  with  all  the  peiietratini;  power  of  ;i 
lyric,  have  soinci  hiiiji  altno-t  of  ipic  Jarj^eness  and  grand- 
cur."    -    Dowden's  /,//''.  11,  LMli), 

.■^.-iN-s  Professor  W.  J.  Alexander:  "'I'he  ti  r:ii  riimi  (al'a, 
Ih'I),  r<\r.  etc.)  employed  in  this  poem  is  hut  little  u.-ed  in 
i:iii:lisli  poetrv.  The  suit,aliilit v  liiTe  of  t!ie  sl;in>;a  form  to 
tlie  theme  .should  1  >e  iioted.  'I'lif  .series  of  sii.-taiiied  Waves 
oi  feeliiii;-,  each  clo.-iiiLr  in  an  invncaf  ion, 'orre-poml-  to  the 
.suspended  rh\nie  of  eaeh  triplet,  re-ohed  at  the  clo.-e  of 
(•;ich  foru'lh  stan/.t  liy  the  couplet,  v,ilh  it  >  sense  of  com- 
pletelie-s." 


it  will  lie  noled  tiiaJ  in  the  lil-t  three  sections  of  this 
imp.a-sioued  CVW  tin'  poet  J^ui-Ues  the  \\i-1  Wind  -  .<o  to 
^^j'cak  ,a-  it  iilow-  o\er  l.and  (ii,  and  "'mid  the  -tci^p 
.;,'.  .;  ;■  .uiui.Mirin  (iii,  ,iini  ii|ion  lite  .-i,i  iim,  •\i  lie  in 
the  two  C'lmcluding  scclion.s  he  jki.s.scs  throu.udi  momentarv 


NOTES 


2.^') 


lonirintr-:  to  lie  liim-'lf  ii'-oInimI  iriio  c'lch  nf  llic-c  (i\-, 
•  l:!  I.")i  iniM  .■111  .■(piiinl  iioi  f.ir  1  r:iii-l:it  i(in,  !  iMl  f'l'  iiniMii. 
('.■lUi'l-U'  :i(l\  rill  Mlini;  i-\r)\  ililn  id^'lil  ilic.-il  ii  .n  :i~  U-i-rd  dii 
lllc    lllllll   (if    III-   iiWIl    -|iilir-  dlKilo.^    ("(lilt'    t(i()   like   llicc") 

wiih  th:il   (jT  Ilic  WcM   W  i..  1:    — 

'•    .    .    .    I'.c  tlidU.  ^pir't   (icrrp. 
My  -p;i  ii  I  I  '.!•  I  hi. 11  I  lie,  Iniiicluoii-  mic'  " 

PiM'liMp^  till'  wiiiils  (if  hi^  \vcll-l(i\'c(l  Aril  I,  •-luilc  nf  :'ir  ;inil 
tire,  wrvi'  IkiUIi!  inu'  llis  Ilk'llliir\  {Tin  'J\  m/i:  :<l,  I.  LI,  I'.IS, 
I'.i'.l;  ■_>!  I,  LM.'):     - 

"I  flMin'il  ainazi'iiicnt :    sninoiiiiic  I'll  iliviilr, 
Anil  liiiin  in  iii:in\   |il:»f('>." 

••    .    .    .    till'  vc~-ol, 
Then  all  alin-  with  inc." 

r!7       "21.  '■  M:i'n:iil.''      Si'c  not!-  (in   Tlir  Snif^ifiir  Plmit,  1.   .''.1. 

3.S       'M.   l^aii    was  ail  aiifii'iil  lioiuaii  city  ami  \vat(.'riii,i^-[ilac(.' 
near  Naples. 

■t:i.  Vi.  I',;>w,t}i,ux  V, , hound,  IV,  .')2S. 

■10  Prometheus  Unbound. 

Siv  Inl  rdiluctiiHi,  pp.  \li.  Ivii,  U'iii.  Jix,  Ixiii.  \\\y .  .'iiul 
Iwi.  "Tlic  jti'dinim'nt  feature  (if  Slielle\-'s  I'leniA'  df  tlic 
(li'stinv  of  the  liuinan  species  \va^  t!iat  e\il  is  nut  inherent 
in  the  sv.stcin.of.tiitLiTtlutii.in,  but  ,ui  ac'ci'i'  nt  tTiat  iniiTiT 
he  expel  lei  1.  This  also  forms  :i  purl  ion  of  ( 'hrist  iaiiity  :  ( Jod 
made  earth  and  man  perfect,  till  he,  li\-  hi-^  fall, 

■  I'lrminht  ileath  into  tln'  w.^rM  aii'l  all  luir  win.' 

SLe.llev  helieved  that  maukiin,!  had  only  tu  will  tluit J h erc 
.should,  b^uil'-'  ^'^'i'l  ''^'"^'  liil'J'c..  wouhj  'n'.  iiune..  If  i-  not  u\y 
part  in  thesi^^^ojes  to  Tintico  the  arirfinieiits  th.at  li:i\e  heen 
uri^ed  ayi.aiiist  this  opinion,  luit  to  mention  the  fact  that  he 
entert.aitied  it,  and  was  indeed  attached  to  it  witli  fer\eiit 
cnthusiasin.  That  man  could  lie  so  piM'fect  ioni/ed  ;is  lo  lie 
alile  to  exjH'l  e\il  from  Ins  own  nature,  and  from  the  Lneati  r 
part  of  the  creation,  \v.as  the  cardinal  point  of  liis  >\-~(em. 
And  the  sul>jeet  \\o  lo\-ed  hest  to  dwell  on  \\;is  the  iniiL'e 
of  one  ■warriiifi  with  the  ];\-il  I'rineipje,  oppn'ssed  not  oiilv 
liv  it,  luit  In'  a.ll  —  even  the  ;:ool,  wlio  were  (lehlded  iiilo 
conside.riiiir  e\'il  ,a  iie('e--.'ir\'  iioriioii  t^^  luiminilx':  a  \i'iim 
full  of  fortitude  and  hope.'intl  the  spirit  ef  t  liuinph.  em. •iii.at- 
iiiij:  fi-iim  a  reliance  in  the  ultim.ate  omniiioleiiee  ol  ('imid. 
.■^uch  lie  had  de])icteil  in  his  last  ])oem.  when  he  made  I.-inii 
the  eneiiiv  and  the  \  id  iiii  of  tyrant^,  lie  imw  tnoh  a  mure 
idealized  im:nr(>  of  the  saliu'  stlliject.  He  followed  cerl:iin 
classical  ;int horities  in  fiirurini:  Saturn  as  the  K'H'J  principle, 
,iii|iiiei  iiie  ii^iU'j'iiiij;  e'\  ii  oin  ,  ,i;;o  fn  wwi  ;  iicii  ■  a.-  ;  i^'  n 
giMienitofj  who,  unal'le  to  hrinir  mankind  luick  to  prim- 


f: 


ii 


23(5 


NOTES 


TACK 


ili\r  ilUH'cclirc.  \\<cil  klK'wIiilL'P  :is  ,'1  WcMpdll  t(i  defeat 
cmI,  1.\  li^iiliu;;  nL'iii!^iii(|,  hfsond  I'lc  >tatf  ulinvin  ilnv 
.■iiv  -iiile-.-  ll;riiiml]  iuhoraiicc.  Ic  that  in  wliicli  tlirv  afc 
\  irni(iii>  llifiitij^li  u_[>(i(,m.  .Iii|ui(-r  |)iiiii-.li,(l  tlic  Icnicntv 
"f  '!"■  'I'itaii  li\-  cliaiiiiii'^  Liiji  to  a  fck  nf  CaiicaMis,  ami 
cail-iliL:  a  Mlllitiv  tu  i|c'\eiir  hi-  -t  ill-iviir\vri|  hcaft.  There 
\va-,  a  li!n|ihee\-  allnat  in  hea\cii  |  m  irtelii  liiii:  the  fall  of 
■'"ve,  the  >ecfet  of  a\eitiiiLr  which  wa-  known  oiil\-  to 
''""lielkelis  .'lljjl  Jjie  ^'o<l  olVeiVil  ffeedfJlii  from  tortlin? 
on  colidilioii  oflts  Liei!JiL-t:UUJlil.iUl.kiiial.lU  llilU  Aceoi-d- 
iliL'  lo  the  lli\  thokiiiical  >toi-v,  this  refeiTed  to  the  off-prilli^ 
"'  Mm  ti-,  w  iio  \va-  destined  to  lie  L'featef  than  his  fat  her. 
i'loMietheils  at  la■^t  lioULzht  pafdol]  fof  1  ii>  ciillle  of  eii'M-h- 
in_'  inankiiiil  with  hi-  i:lft>.  I.y  iv\-ialini:  the  piophecv. 
Mefcuk-  kill.,1  the  \iiltiire,  aiid  ,-et  hiiM  ffee;  and  'I'lietis 
\\a-  n  la  I  lied  to   I'eleiH.  the  father  of  Achilles. 

"Shelle\-  adal>le(l  thi'  cala>trophe  of  this  stor\-  to  liis 
peculiar  view-.  The  son  f:reafer  (liaii  his  father,  liorii  of  the 
nuptials  of  Jupiter  and  Thetis,  was  to  dethrone  l^vil,  ami 
hriiiir  liack  a  happier  reiiiii  than  that  of  Saturn.  Froiuct hens 
defies  the  jxiwcr  of  his  etieniv,  and  eiiilnres  ceniiirics  of 
torture;  till  the  hoin-  arri\e-  when  ,hi\c.  Mind  to  tin'  real 
event,  hut  darklv  ^nies-inL'  that  some  jrreat  irood  to  him.self 
\villflo\v,e.-J)ou.-es 'I  heti-.  .\t  I  he  moment .  t  he  I'rinial  Power 
of  the  world  drives  him  from  his  usiirpeil  throne,  and 
ytrenj^th,  in  the  person  of  Hercules,  liher.ates  Ilumanitv, 
typified  in  Promethoiis,  from  the  tortures  generated  livevil 
ijone  or  sulTered.  Asia,  one  of  the  Oceaiiides,  is  the"  wife 
of  Prometheus  -she  w.as,  accordinj^  to  fit  her  mvtlioIof,'ical 
interpretations,  the  same  as  ^'enus  and  Xature.  When  the 
lieiu'factor  (  f  mankind  is  lilxTated,  Nature  resumes  tlic 
Ix'.autv  of  her  prime,  and  is  united  to  lier  hiishand,  the  em- 
I'lein  of  the  1  man  race,  in  ])erfect  and  happ\-  imioii.  In  the 
fourth  Act.  I  lie  poet  jri\-es  further  scojx'  to  his  imairination, 
and  idealizes  the  forms  of  creation  —  such  as  we  know 
th^'in,  instead  of  sucli  as  tliev  appeared  to  the  T.reek.s. 
-Maternal  Ilartli,  the  mitrhtv  parent,  is  stiperseded  l)v  tlu; 
Sjiirit  of  the  Earth,  the  i;uide  of  our  jilanet  tliroimli  the 
realms  of  sky;  while  his  fair  and  ive.aker  cfimpaiiion  and 
.atteiid.'int,  the  Spirit  of  the  .Moon,  receives  lilis>  from  the 
annihilation  of  E\il  in  the  .superior  sphere. 

"Shell(>y  develojis  more  particiikarly  in  the  Ivries  of  this 
(Iram.a  his  alistrus(>  and  imaLn'n.ative  tlieories  with  reirard 
to  the  rTeation.  It  reipiires  ,a  mind  as  subtle  .and  pelietrat- 
iiiij;  as  iiis  own  to  understand  the  irivstic  meaniin;s  scattered 
throuiihout  the  poem.  Thev  elude  the  ordinarv  reader 
liv  their  ;il)straetion  and  delicaey  of  distinction,  Init  they 
are  far  fioin  waixne.  It  was  lu's  desisxn  to  write  prose  nieta- 
pli\sieai  essavs  on  liie  nature  of  Man,  wiiich  would  have 
served  to  explain  inncli  of  what  is  oI)sciire  in  liis  poetry; 


NOTES 


237 


I'A(;e 


;i  few  scattcrc'l  frafrmcnts  of  (ihs.Tvatidiis  an(l  roniarkH 
aloiir  remain.  !  If  c-niiviilrrrd  tlirsc  i)liil<.s()i.!iical  views  (.f 
.Mind  anil  Nature  to  We  instinct  witli  the  inteiise-t  si)irit 
of  poetrv."  —  I'roin  Mrs.  Slielii'v's  Note. 

"The  inartvnloni  of  a  heroie  lover  and  saviour  of  man- 
kind was  a  'theme  around  whieh  Siiellev's  hiudiest  and 
purest  feeiiims  and  imaLMniiiirs  must  gather;  and  tor  liini 
sucli  a  mart>rdom  niu.-t  needs  l)e  the  j)led«e  of  tlie  hnal 
victory  of  jov   and  wi.-doni  aiul  love."  —  l)owdens  Lilt, 

II,  sM). 

'•'I'he  es.sential  thoufiht  of  Shelley's  creed  was  that  t'.- 
universe  is  penetrated,  \itali/ed,  made  real  Wy  a  spin,, 
which  he  sometimes  called  the  Spirit  of  Nctuiv,  1.  it  .vhicli 
is  always  conceived  as  more  than  I.ife.  a<  that  wh.ch  tfives 
its  actualilv  to  I.ife,  and  lastlv  as  l.ove  and  lie.'.utv.  lo 
adore  thi-  spirit,  to  clasp  it  with  alTei'tioii,  ami  lo  Mend 
with  it,  is,  he  thoui;ht,  the  true  object  of  man.  Theretore, 
the  final  union  of  I'rometheus  with  A-ia  is  the  consum- 
iTiation  of  human  de-^tinies.  l.ove  was  Ih,'  onlv  law  .^hellev 
recognized.  Cnlerriliol  l>y  tlie  ixrim  realities  of  pam  and 
crime  revealed  in  nature  and  -oeietv,  he  held  fa>t  to  the 
belief  that,  if  we  could  luit  pierce  to  the  core  of  things,  if 
we  could  hut  l>e  what  we  miiiht  be,  the  worl.l  and  man 
would  both  attain  to  their  iierfection  in  eternal  love.  W  hat 
resolution  I hrouirh  some  transcendent. al  harmony  was  ex- 
pected bv  Shellev  for  the  pali>al)le  discords  in  t  lii>  struc- 
ture of  the  universe,  wi>  hardlv  know,  lie  <lid  not  frive  his 
philosophv  svstem.atic  form:  and  his  new  science  of  love 
remains  .■!  luminous  po(>tic  vision -- nowhere  more  bril- 
liantly set  forth  than  in  the  'sevenfold  hallelujahs  ainl 
harpiui:  symphonit^^;'  of  this,  the  final  triumph  ot  his  Ivrical 
iioetrvr"    --  .)ohn  .\(ldinirton  Symonds's  Slnllrii. 

■'.V  iienuine  likim;  for  I'nninthdis  r)ih'»nnl  niav  bo 
r>-ckon.Ml  the  totichstone  of  ;i  man's  capacitv  for  under- 
standiiif,'  Ivric  poetrv.  The  world  in  which  the  action  is 
supi>ose(l  to  move,  ring's  with  -pii'it  voices  and  what  tliesc 
spirits  --ill"-  is  inelodv  more  i)uri,'ed  of  mort.il  dross  t|i;in  any 
other  poefs  ear  has  cau-iht,  while  lislenini:  to  Ins  own 
heart's  sonir.  or  to  the  rhvthms  of  the  world.  There  are 
livmns  in  I'miiKl'i^  n--<.  which  .seem  to  realize  the  miracle  of 
makin-'-  wonb,  detached  from  uic'inins:,  the  -ub-tMiice  of  a 
new  et'liereal  muMc;  and  vet  .althouirh  their  verbal  har- 
luonv  is  >uch,  ihev  are  never  .'cNoid  of  definite  sisrmlicance 
for  those  who  understand."  —  John  .Vddinirton  Symond>  d 

Sill  III  '/.  .  1,  1    .1  I 

••Shellev  c.ime  to  this  sub.iect  uaturallv  and  thromrh 
yo;irs  of  unconscious  preparatioii ;  ;in<l  when  the  moment 
of  creation  came,  iie  ieii  I  he  ill  aim- m'''-'''^'*'  •  ■.■  '"  ''i^ 
Revolution,  felt  the  Promethean  securitv  of  victorv  it 
contained  —  felt,    too,    the     rrometheaii    sutferul^'    winch 


2:18 


AOTKS 


]'A(.r, 


it 
H 


•  1  >' 


r 


\v;is  flic  lic'irt  iif  iii.-iiil.iihl  .1-;  lie  saw  if,  siirvovint;  Kiirop(> 
injiis  (lay,  and  kiu  \\  ii  in  l.i  -  i.w  ii  lio.-diu  .as  well.  He  con- 
ceived <ii'  I'ldiiH'i  III  11^  a-  iiiaiil^iiiil.  (if  his  histnr\-  and  latt; 
as  the  dc-iinv  of  man;  ,ind  Lrini,'  t'lili  of  Ihat  far  sii,dit  of 
l'roniriliiii>  \vlii<  ii  saw  the  vicloii(Hi>  md  licinLT  as  fidl 
'■I'  i'  .1-  I  lie  wIm'cI  of  I'l/ckicl  \va-  full  of  cxcs  h,.  ^au  .  as 
'lie  c,Miiv(if  ail  vi-ion.  I'lonieihcux  I'nhonnd  the  niil- 
len  Ilium  of  mankind,    i  le  inia^iined  l  lie  |iroces>  of  that  iricat 

lil'enilion  and  il>  (aduninir  pio-perit  ie^.    Tliis  is  la-,  | ni. 

in  this  [Kieiii  (he  l.'evolniion  .a>  a  moral  iilea  reached  its 
lieiudil;  Ih.al  i.-  uh.il  make-  it,  from  the  soci.al  point  of 
\leu,  IIk'  race  point  of  view,  the  L'l-eateM  Work  of  the  la-l. 
c(iiliir\-  ill  creative  iiiiairiiial  ion  lor  it  i.  the  Minim.iiv 
.•md  c-eiiire,  in  the  world  of  ;irt,  of  the  greatest  power  in 
'('■■il  ceniiirv  I'e  power  of  the  idea  of  huinaiiily." — 
(-icor?j,e  1  duard  \\  oodi lerrv's  TIk   'ionii. 

I'niDnlh,  11.^  I'i,hn,ni(l  is  .■^hellev's  frreate-t  ilrama  and  his 
trre.ati-t  poiin,  lit  suhject  at  once  hu'  the  philosophiziiiirs 
ol  a  lliu'i  1  or  the  musical  f:eniu>  of  .a  W  amua-.  Thoiii^di  it 
is  possjlik  to  (|uesii<iii  >,,me  of  its  structural  ideas  in  t^uth 
of  detail,  the  truth  of  it-  in<.\em.iit  .and  a>piratioii  is 
!"'.V"'i'l  'I  leMion.  It>  i.ojitical  value  i-  no  douht  les>  than 
il>>oc^l  ahie,a!id  tli.at  .affaiii  Ic-s  than  its  .-^lirit  ual  vahie. 
If  "ffTTf'rs  .  o  -.lire  nuthod  for  the  reiiov.ai  ion  of'TiTi"'  (>iif'it 
inipre>sr,s  us  .all  with  the  ,as-urance  and  re.alitv  of  renova- 
tioil.  HaviiiL:  said  this,  however,  we  must  caution  the.sliidetif 
afraiiist  a  too  <locile  acceptance  of  the  dicta  of  those  critics 
who  cansec  no  vitality  in  .-ihi^llev '.>  social  ,and  jKilitical 
Nievvs.  The  truth  would  .-.eein  to  lie  that  iilthiMi'di  the 
poet,  as  a  student  of  alTair.s,  rcujaiiied  steadily  faitlifuTto  fh.; 
tcacliinj.'s(,f  W  illiaiii  (iodwiii,  yet  hi-  niattcr'of  belief  in  tiii.s 
reg.-.rd  was  far  1; -s  important  to  him  -  -and  oiijrhi  to  Im! 
-so  to  tis  -than  th,-  ciier.trv  and  cut  husia-in  of  hi.s  belief, 
it>  spirit  ;iud  its  ptiwer.  Uljv  placed  loo  little  >tre.ss  on  th(! 
tiHorlful  co-op(jialiun  of  men  in  the  vvurkiii;,'  out  of  their 
N'lif^  salvation,  we  must  reineiuiicr  that  .^helley  v.-.as  a 
lioinaiitic  ])oet  and  that  hi--  own  experience  had'acl  iiallv 
triven  him  more  occ.-i-ion  for  helievin;;;  in  the  beiieticeiit 
dxiiamic  <.f  .X.iture  than  in  tiiat  of  his  fellows.  In  Man,  ;is 
theofcat  nietnlier  and  expression  (if  .Xature.  he  lielieved;'  of 
tLlU_m.'ntal  .and  ipjnlu.al  ijiertia  of  mti,  he  vva.>i  hiit  t(><> 
keenly  avv;:re.  \or  i-  it  hv  aiiv  means  certain  thar.Sht-Uev's 
.'social  phiiosciphv,  mo'e  particularly  exainined,  is  as  ni- 
adecpi  ite  as  ii  m.iik  times  appears.  !t  is  net  to  he  inter- 
preted ;i-  po^  t  iil.al  ■ii",  a   pUI-eJv  rNl.'lll.ll   impu!   e,   lilit   r.ather 

an  inelii-ive  on,'.    ,->lii  llcv  ■.-  m.inkind,  thou::h    iriveii  fluctii- 


~      |....<.       I..     ,,       ■.!-'       ->.:•' .1  1-1  II  i;,oii  -allOM.    Is     lll'l       IIV    a  II  V 

|ll«':ili~    a    niech,anici/,ed    conception.      He    s.aw   and    felt    the 
importance  of  arousinj;  huinanily  to  acti-.i    enterprise  in 


NOTKS 


239 


'A<ii; 

its  own  iH'li.ilf.  .•illd  souililcil  IK';il  ;iftrr  |)i-il  nf  W.'imillL'  .'iikI 
ciitri'atv  ill  |i:unnlili'l  ;inil  ponii;  Imt  lii>f\is  uitc  lial)il- 
iiallv  liM'il  nn  ih,'  avi-At  pxiiiciplca  ul'  Lu\l'  ami  ^\  Uduin  aiul 
Virtue,  al)-l  r  ici  inns  wliicli  liecainc  so  krciilv  and  irlowiii'zlv 
rcali/.rd  ill  liis  own  Ihiciirlit  tliat  of  tlicir  iulii-rcnt  acti\ilv 
lie  cniild  cntrrtaiii  un  (Imilit.  Slicllcv's  ;rn'at  invt  1i-|ii>cim, 
indcrd,  licfiirc  and  li.'t\vi-.>n  it-  rapid,  iii-atiali'  liisrlits, 
it-Is  hack  upmi  a  lia-l-  of  iiltiinatc  and  ininiuIal>K'  law, 
that  stern  vet  kind  riirlitness  of  tliinir-  of  whieli  we  liavo 
spoken  in  t!ie  Introduelion.  There  l^  m  it  liie  '  ireek  >ens(! 
of  Fat",  tile  Itenaissanee  seii-e  of  \\n^  the  IJeNolutioll 
sense  of  freedom,  the  ijonianlic  -^elis"  of  love,  the  nioileril 
sense  of  -jji'f"'^  It  completes  d'NehN'his  a^  I'.iiLdand  eom- 
J)k'tes  Clreece,  and  if  it  is  not  as  >.  nMti\e  to  cmrent  knovv- 
k'dtrc  as  some  li.ave  wished,  it  is  vei  a  poem  of  .astonishinixly 
.self-renewinLT  inodei'iiitv,  lilje.l  wiih  the  ->pi:it  of  j\lstice, 
of  lil>"rt\-,  an  I  of  I  rul!i,  -  in  a  woril,  of  enfranchise.!  Keini;. 
J 1 1  pi  let-  is  the  -vmliol  of  llindranee,  (';r-.iom.  '{"ra.lition; 
I'ronietheiH,  of .  \\;iiduin,  Fortitud(j.  lliim.uutv;  A>ia.  of 
Loveaiitl  lieaulvin  Nature;  i_)cUiui;"r:-;on,  ul'  I-Jernal  I'"iito. 
I'ronietlieus  .and  ,lupiter  prol.au'oni-i  .and  .ant;iu'<>nisf  — • 
!ir"  ;is  sharpb.'  o!)ii"-''d  .a-,  in  more  eoneri'te  dram.-i.  .are 
Ilainlet  .and  Claudiu-.  I  )tl!ello  and  1  e:o.  I",  '.at  rice  and  (  'ount 
('..•ici,  ilid  ihi'  oppo-il'iin  i-  far  more  iniporlani  liere  Ke- 
caUM'  il^  i--'ie-  .are  f^lt  to  Im'  d'ci-iv-e.  ^'et  the  dr.am.ifie 
•strni'ture  of  tlie  p.^em  is  t^\  |e-s  value  than  its  eritotion.al 
power.  the  Iruih  of  its  in-tinct,  the  jjure  Ivric  fervour 
of  its  utt(a-ance,  the  (a-ediMe  triumph  of  its  irre.at    finale. 

In    the    .'sotes    th.at    follow    t]\r    eonn'ai'isous    with    the 
I'ronif  til'  IIS   \'itir/ii.<  of  .l']sch\lus  refei'  to  .Mrs.   j'.rowninii'.s 

translation,  which  i-.  p  rhaps,  th  ■   most    e.a-^ilv  aecess- 

i!il"  to  the  :iv  r.aire  student,  d'lie  ori^in.al  te\t  and  the 
a  liniraid'  versions  hv  J.S.  I'.I:ickie  and  by  l^.  H.  I'hiinptre 
.sliouh!  he  con-^ult  •(!.  whenever  po.ssiMe, 

.\('T   I 

44       Srrnr.   Tlio  time  referi'iices  h(>ri'  and  in  irenoral  tliroup;h- 
out  the  pnem  are  not  without  their  svniholic  v.aluo. 
•_'.  "One."    The  speaker.    Cf.  11.  '-W),  274,  -VXi. 

4.")  9.  '■  I'A-dess  in  liat(\''  I'.linded  hv  hitterness.  Cf.  hint] 
Lrnr.  Ill,  1,8.  The  plirnse  modifies  '•  thou"  in  1.  10.  It  is  a 
Promethean  taunt  of  t!ie  dramatic  moment  fpiife  in  k<>epin<i 
■\vith  tlie  wonls  .iRschvlus  makes  his  hero  -<|X>ak  to  lo  con- 
cernin'j;  /eiis.  his  persecutor  .and  her  lo\'er: 

■■/,,.     ]\\    ulic'ii  -hall  hi-  iiap.a-ial  srrptro.1  h.aiid 
lie  <Mlllilii'>l   sn'' 

'llir'niu:!!  liis  iilietic  (m)iiii,-i'1.-^." 

Mrs.  Urowninir's  transkition,  Proiruthdis  Bound,  11.  SSCv- 

88S. 


'J  40 

I'ACK 


NOTES 


■2\    1:5.  Cf.    Promt  Ihnis  lioiiml.  \\.W-]-21. 

'M.    "  Iic;iV(ii'.s    \\int;('(l     IkiuiiiI."      'I'Iic     vulturi'.      An 
J'Nchvlc'iii  plirjisf. 
46        to.   "When    tlie    rocks    .split."     Cf.    /'ronirtluus    Hound, 
11    l_'i),V()".t: 

"...   I'nr  lit  first 
Tlio  I-'rilhiT  will  >^|ilii  up  llii-  jin  nf  rcick 
Willi  tln'i_-r'"i'  lliiiii'liT  iiii.l  the  liultcil  lluiiie. 
Anil  hide  lli\'  budv  wlicrc  ;i  liiiiKe  of  ^lune 
Sli;ill  <';ilcli  il  likr  an  :iriii." 


r)0-r)2.  For  .similar  force  in  iiivccti\c,  cf.  (irav't!  The 
Bard,  11.  1,  u,  lo,  UT-'.M*. 

');•).  Tliis  line  coiitaiiis  the  first  .su;;i;rstion  of  tlir  character 
of  the  Shi'llcNaii  I'lomrthni.s  a.s  exceiliiii;  that  of  tiio 
.l'>ehvlcaii.  The  hero  of  the  I'ronutlii  us  \  inrtux  eiulure.s 
ami  (Iclie.s.  Shcllev'.s  I'rom.  iheiis  aihls  to  the  just  and 
siitTeriiifX  .s[)irit  of  his  i)rototy|M'  a  inodmi  s\riipath\'  ami 
inaiiiianiinitv  trained  throuirh  lout;  discipline,  and  wins  no 
hiixher  tribute  than  that  of  Jui)iler  himself^  —  Act  III,  Sc.  1, 
11.  (lJ-f)!». 

T^\.  I'Orniaii  reconitnciids  the  omission  of  "the"  as  ;i 
metrical  improvement.  It  seems.  hii\ve\cr,  that  the  crowd- 
inj;  haste  of  the  line  accords  happilv  with  its  meanins;. 

(13.  "  \il)rated."  Note  the  nervous  effect  induced  by  the 
ncceiit-shiftini;. 
47  71  dttti.  'fhe  respnn.'^es  are  made  hy  each  Voice  as  ad- 
jured 1)V  Prometheus.  All  the  \'oices  are  in  symi)athy 
with  the  'fitau,  like  the  .EscliNlean  chorus,  hut  their  na- 
ture-e<|uililirium  is  shudderinirly  disturlK'd  by  the  conflict 
between  Jupiter  and  his  victim,  as  brought  to  focus  in  the 
memorv  of  the  awful  cur.se,  of  wliicli  they  are  silently 
unforijetful. 

<t.>-',»S,   Cf.    Colerid;re's    Rlmi-    of    the    Atiricnt    Mariner, 
11.  .'riO-.'.CO. 
4S        1  lJ-1  ir?.    Prnmethiiw  airain  refers  to  the  curse  ho  uttered 

a^.'iinsl  .Jupiter,  wliich  tlie  N'nin.s  d;irc  not  rejH'at. 
4n  VM.  "love."  'fhe  subj.'ct  is  the  "thou"  of  1.  VM'S.  in  the 
present  editor's  jiidirnieiit,  not  "I."  In  11.  11.'?  .•>-7.  Prome- 
theus accuses  his  mother  F.arth  of  scornins  him.  Her 
near:  r  movement  and  dimlv  conipassiniiat(>  voice  now 
reassure  hiin.  and  he  acknnwlefl<res  her  love.  Forman, 
liowmcr.   prefers  "I"  as  th(>  subject. 

51  17r)-177.  Cf.  The  Sensitive  rhnt.  11.  22f-2.'1. 

1!)1  -'it's.  .\  finol\'  im.'ifrinative  picture  of  the  fixitv  of  the 
Past  in  F.ternal  .Memorv.    'fhe  sutrtiestion  is  Platonic. 

52  212.  "  Hades."     Pluto.    "Tvphon."    A  f;iant  resistor  of 

213.  "  F-vil."  Note  the  allegorical  suggestion.  Contrast 
11.  219-222. 


\i 


o  J 


NOTES 


241 


-■>  '    ooo  sv,    Tlic  rnti>^t!Uit    presence  (.f  Imie  Mini  I'.iiitlieM.  sis- 
terVnf  li.e  niiu.te  and  meal.'-  AMa,  l.iin-^  I"  I'n.inet  liens 
s.itlielhill!,'    of    the    collsnlalioll     luT    owil     pieveiie.'     w.iuM 
il^ure.     1  he-^e  -pilits  >erve  the  l)Uri)nse  <if  a  ehoni-.  a-  now 
IxiicalU    aMli(i|ialini;  the   api>earaliee  of  Ilie    l'liaiil:i~m   of 

't    '       '7:1      /ell<.>\\V(l    lii~   till- ■   Id  I'roMietliells.     Cf    ll.iSN-     '■<; 

]'rnm<tl,fU.^    Iliiunil.   II.   -Jill    \l^>\' ■     Note   I  lie  all.'irofV   Im  iv.      - 
111!  power  ileiive-  ils  aiitliorits   from  llie  spirit  ot  Inilh  and 

justice.  r      1         I 

r,,;  ;{,);{  .'It  ,l(>tli  rep<Iit  nn'."  'I'lie  opi'ratloli  ot  the  law 
of  lu-ce-itv  expressed  in  the  cur-e  a.-  ilievilaMe  is  not 
rep.'nled,  l)Ul  rather  th.'  -pirit  of  nialcvoience  toiind  wi 
II  'sc,  "If)  Cf.  l..">:<  and  note,  llie  Uric  oulhurstsot  despair 
tint  follow  sUL'i^e^t  the  inaUilitv  of  the  piin^ly  nnliiml 
mind  of  antl<niitv  —  faciim  tlu>  fact  of  I'roiiietheiis  cap- 
ti^^,v_to  ai)preciiite  the  nu-aniii'^  and  power  of  iinscll- 
ishness  Cf  Matthew  ArnoM's  sonnet,  //)  llarmorvj  with 
Nature.     Cf.  also  11.  :V,)4-im. 

:irj-:ii;?.   Note    'lie    cxtraoniinarv    emotional    power   ol 
these    iterations   as   prolonjiiiifi    the    sense    of    lailure    and 

^'•An    '".serpent -cinctured  wand."    The  caduceus,  or  wand 
of  .Mercurv,  surmounted  hy  win.^s  and  havinj,'  two  srriH'nts 

twine(i  ahout  it.  ,  .    .^i       t-     i  ,. 

■^■K^  .Mercurv,  or  Hermes,  tempts  and  l.iunts  the  •'';;""l'.'*- 
loan  Prometheus.  ,><hellev,  however,  makes  hiin  well  dis- 
posed toward  the  sufferer.  •  ,•  ,• 
57  .S4:j  "the  Sonof  Maia."  Mercury.  I  here  is  a  vindicti\o 
su-'-festion  here  nf  .lovean  ven.ueaiice  overtaking  hesitancv, 
nsTi  Strength's  words  to  Hepiiavstus,  Prometheus  Bound, 

11.  73-75:  .      „.    , 

"  Dost  thou  flinch  aRain, 

Aii'l  breathe  croan.s  for  the  enemies  of  Zeus? 

ISewiire  li>t  thine  own  pity  find  tliee  out." 
347    "deryon"    "Ciorson."    Fabulous  monsters.    Cicr- 
von  hud  throe  head.s  and  three  bodies,  ancl  was  slam  l.y 
ilercules.   The  ( lorfjoiis  were  three  sisters,  Stheno,  luiryale, 
and  Medusa.    Medusa  was  sl.iin  by  Perseus. 

34S  "ChimaTa."  A  fire-belchinir  monster,  destroyed 
l)V  Hellorophon.  "Sphinx."  Tlie  Sphinx  was  sent  by  Juno 
to  the  Thebans,  and  devoured  tho.s(>  of  them  who  tried  and 
failed  to  .solve  her  eniu'tnas.     (I'.dipus   .solved   one  at  hust, 


58 


and  the  Sphinx  dctroved  lierself. 
354.  Cf.  Fromcthcns  Bound,  11.  21-22: 


"  Thee  loath,  I  loath  mu-t  rivet  fa^t  in  oliaina 
Against  this  rocWy  height  unclonih  hy  man,"  etc. 

59  37''  "a  secret."  The  .secret  is  tiiat  .iiipiier  will  take  a 
^•ife  —  Thetis  —  whose  child  —  Demogorgon  —  will  cause 
his  sire's  downfall. 


)  1.) 


•Jl: 


XOTFS! 


f:  i 


ij' 


•"''••  ■'!''''  "the  Sicilian'.-."  I  (.iiimclrs,  ;i  ll.ittiTinir  rmirtiiT, 
over  \vIh)-c  l)ain|iii'tiM>;-fliair  the  tynmi  Ihunv-in-  mis- 
pciiilnl    I   k.cu    -wiinl   l>v  a  licrsfhair,  a>  a  -\inl.>,|  ,•]   tlic 

lllSl'I'lltll  \     n|    |ll.H(     :ill,i    |.nwcr. 

C.l         J.'TlJs.  i'\.  J'iDiiiiii,,  us  lloinid,  U    11(1,     IlKi.s//. 

•l;{S- |.{!»     Tlioc  line-.   wiliio-iiiL'  iIm    .1.  partiitc  ■  I'   ^^■r- 
••lirv  nil  liU  iiii>,>ji.|i  (MM'  II.  :U){,    :>7I  I,  arc  liiriii(ii:iM\    I  m  :iii- 

til'tll. 

'■'•-'        lit;    117.  (f    M, nhcth,  Alt  111.  Sc    1,11.  lh(i,  107: 
■    .   .  .   lli'iico,  horrililr  nli:i.|..«  I 

lliriMl   lIKH'klT.V,   llfllCO  !  " 

•1"),   l.")().   .\  favduiitc  (ii'iircwith  Slirllcv     Sec   ridfc  on 
,■1  (liiiidis,  I.  JUT. 

Vi'.\  tti.").  ("f.  fmiTi  \'>Arin\'s  vss:\y,  ( )f  Difiirniitif :  "  Ccrtaiiily 
llicrc  is  a  coiiNcrif  hctwfcii  the  hody  an,l  ihr  riiimi,  and 
u  liciv  n.itiirc  crrcf  h  in  t\v  one  she  vi'Mtuirth  in  t  In'  di  hrr." 
CI'.  al>(i  Shakc-^pcan"'^   h'irfiurd  III,  \v\    1,  .^(  .    I.   II.  11-:!!. 

f'.l  IIKI-f):'!  .     \(,|,.  II:,.  r\  ll   licavilir-.  dt'  l!ir  IIilMiI   :iI1(|  Inovc- 

inciit  inrtricallv  .-iif^u'f.Mid  in  this  ha^'  clidrii-.  < 'I',  th,.  \\  itch 
seen.-  in  Mil,  Ik  III,  Act  1,  Scenes  1  and  :!;  .\ct  1\',  Siv  1; 
anil  Finest,  \\al|)UM:i>  Xi^rht,  Part   I.  Sc.  2\ . 

(')ti  .)ll)-i')77.  The  ch;iril>  ot'  the  ("iKiru-cs  acconipanN'  the 
climax  dl'  the  -pii  it  ii.il  .sufferinj:  of  I'rdinethcu.-.  a>  he  sees 
into  the  I'uiuiv  ''lydr  Chii^t   (II.  .'117  .'(iC,!.  and  of  t  he 

failure  dl'  the  i'Vi  i<fVoliition  (II.  .")(is   .")77i,  I'oth  events, 

a--<  Shellev   lieiieveij,  \vr'  '  ffdin  the  cdnli-(]|  <i!'  (Iddd  and 

|>cr\  riled  td  r,\  il.    i'n.iii,  >  tcnipli  (1  ihiH  to  dduljt  the 

ultiiii:ite  \:iliic  of  hi-  own  ...  for  m.inkind. 

(i'.l  .V.l.s  tdCi.  rrdinetli(  ii.>  addresses  the  \  -ion  of  Christ. 
Slielle\'s  hatred  ol'  eccle.^iasf icisru.  of  formal  and  lethal 
rcli.izion,  fii;ils  conirenial  expnssion  hep'  Sit  Introduc- 
tion, pp.  \i\  ,iiid  \\. 

oil.s.  Cf.  I'liiiHilli,  Its  liounil.  II.  ;i()l -;',()_': 

••Chorus.    .And  triiK'  f^r   mkIi  .-in-  /imi-  turtiircs  Ihre, 
.Aii'l  «  ill  ir'iii  iKj  an^'iij.-lr.'  " 

70  <V_'S.  'rhdiii^'h  tlii-  i- .-i  projected  ])ictnre,  it  reflects  liack 
al.-o  iiiKin  the  jiresent  .-iluatidn  in  the  drama  —  Prometheus 
wantini:  Asia's  aid,  and  .\-i:i  i  )emdf:dri:on's,  to  comi)lete 
their  freedom  <jf  spirit  and  of  ac  ion. 
_  (i:i.").  The  invincil.le  t;oodne.-s  of  the  'i'ifan  conquers  the 
Fury's  power  ldn_'er  to  molest  him.  This  jxreat  .-cene  in- 
evitubiy  siiix^e.-.ts  the  Temptation  of  Christ  in  the  wilder- 
ness.   See  .Matthew  i\ ,  1-11;  Luke  i\,  1-13. 

(ilO.   \  not  iidVe(|uently  ncurrinij;  mood  of  Shelley  firid-s 
brief  expression  here. 

IWI.  Cf.  priiiintluiis  limind.  II.  1_'},V124S. 

•-  '■'"■  '•     ''■"'.    .-.;:;;;;;;:'  |;;c";  lire  «'m    \',\i'    I'TiUi't't    I  it"  VOliit  iOn, 

r>(l.")- (iTJ.  The    rlivriH'  — iHit    criiplovcd   in    the    dialopio 
toucIiMii;  tilt'  Furifs   (11.  liO-M;]  aiul' r>2J-r>::r>)  —  u-lit-ws 


yoTKs 


21;? 


y 


llic  \cr~('  nricl  ^iripal  lut  ic;illv  iiiil  i(i|);it('N  llic  cdriiini;  nl' 
I  lie  S|iiiii-.    ■■  Tlifii-  lic.-iiilv  uivi's  iiu' voici'."  (I.  "iiii  I 

Tii        •(''•")  .'/      I'lii-  S|)iiil>   have  ili.-i;ilit    into  (he   liii.il   tniliii|ili 
<(t   •^11(1.   .1^   ilir    I'lirif-i   iiiti>  llic   loll!;  |MT^i>tiii_'   |      ^'i    "I 
\,\i[.    I'.ai'li  S|iiiit,  iiistaiiriii!;  an  arlioii  nr  aliiluli-  i  I  Iiil'Ii 
tiniitl,  sfcks  to  jiHtit'v  tlif  lailli  1)1'  all  Ilir  Spirit 
7in   71.").  Cf.   Thr  <'l»,„l,  II.  (-.7   11. 

7llt,  7-'0.  Cf.  Sliakc>iM'aiv's   77/.    T^/nihsl.    \ci    I,  Sc.    J, 
II.  Ht.VJlJ. 

71       7■^"^-7•">-'.  S<  1-  I  III  riidnct  i(  II,  p.  l\iii. 

7.'(       7'f7,  '  'I.  lii'"  'i7_'. 

7711,  Cf.  Ailiniais,  v..  :r'M    101. 

7f.        7M1.   CI,   Mnrhrth,  Act    1,  Sc    J,  li     11,  1  J ;    Sc.  :!,  1.  ;?S. 

77  Ml")  •■  n'-pnli.Mvs."  Acccnlcil  oil  lln'  lil'-I  ^\llalp|^■.  Cf. 
.\(t    II,  11.   171,  o-T). 

7S  sjii,  s_'l.  The  I'liric-'  torments  ;iimI  the  , Spirits' cdii-idla- 
tinii  .'irc  .alike  incomplete.  The  I'liiies  ha\f  deriileil  the 
iilc.i  (.f  |o\-e.  ;iii'l  even  t!   ■  Spirit'^  ('.aiinot  iirnore  its  apparent 

failure-.  Vet  in  it  alolle  lies  hope.  The  Illeinorv  of  I'l'o- 
liiitheii-  and  the  woiil-  of  I'.iiilhea  l>oth  turn  his  thnUL'hts 
toWKil  .\-ia.  till'  |)rinciiile  of  tli.at  iiexi-r-wearieil  l.o\-e 
which  animates  and  sustains  the  uiHN'erse.  Sei'  Ailnniiis, 
II.  ISI    isc. 

S:;:!,  ,s:;  1.    Love,    if  slie    is    to    persist,   must    Ix'    united   to 
\\  isdom. 

ACT    II 


sciAi;  I 


7'.)       12.  The  short  line  dwells  for  .a  moment  witli  sad  intensit\' 

upon  the  iilea  it   e\pie--es. 

:U .  ■■The  siiadow  of  that  soul."  r.antliea,  messenger 
lietwe'-li  IVoniethcUs  and  .\si:i,  sits  within  the  sli.adow  of 
the  Tit.aii.  To  .\si.i  ^he  is  the  shadow  of  I'roinet lieus,  to 
I'romelheils   the   shadow   of   .\si.a.     See    1.    7t). 

50  :M\.   Cf.  II.  (11 -'.fJ. 

51  ('i7.   ('(■   l'^ jil [)si/chiilli'ii ,  11.  ."iS7".")'.ll  . 

(M  101).  lone  felt  wli.at  I'.anthea  felt,  Imt  more  dimlv, 
and  did  not  underst.and  the  me.aiiin!;  of  lier  dre,am.  lom- 
represents  Hope.  I'.anthea.  the  more  active  of  the  two 
sisters,  svmlioli/.es  I'aith  -the  faith  t'lat  Shellev  fel;  in 
the  ultimato  'Ciodness'  of  thiiiL's.     N'ote  the  derixat  ion. 

Si        li:?,  120.  These  two  liiK-s  asiain  iinite   Prometheus  and 
A:-ia  thrcmirli  Pantliea.    .S<('  not.'  on  I.  .'U  aliove. 
llt-117.    A  heautiful  iiicfnre  of  F.aith, 

S;5       i:?1-20.J.   "^^>llow!     Follow!"      The    Dream    ntt(-rs    the 
woids  of  jirotrress  that   all   X.atiire  sounds  and  echoes,  the 

UM  'inir  on."   The   heautv  of  Shellev's  idea,  or,  rather,  of 
i      . Ajircssion  lu  re,  is  extraordinarily  moving. 


\M 


244 


XOTES 


i'.\«;r. 

s:i 
M 


lit.   Sco  nnt(^  nn  Adiimiis.  I.  1  10. 
.■)ti-l.V,l.    C'f.  (hi,    to  tin    II  ,M   W  Liiil,  11.  r)7-f)l. 


!l 


sciNi;  II 

S7       '■  I.n\('  •■md  r'aitli  .■in'  iHii-siiin;r  (licir  jnmnc\-  lliroaii-li  ,'i!I 
liuiii.-iii  I  \|MTiiiicc:    ;iiiil  lii-l   llir\'  |i,-i>^  I  liiiiiiiili  llic  ^plicn; 

nl  I  lie  ,'-^rli~(>.  (ir  (Ati'i  M.il  lilr  I  Si '1 11  id  ii ;  I'll-  1  1  ;  t  iifli  I  lirolliill 
IIkiI  oI  l!ic  l!iii(>l  inii^  (.^riiiicliiirils  II  i;  liiLilK',  llirdlii^h 
tl'.-it  of  llic  licaMUi  :iiiil  ihc  Will  l.Sciniclioriis  lllj."  — 
Villa  I).  Sciuldcr. 

2'JI.   "aiiriiionc."    Sec  luitc  oii  The  (Juisticn,  1.  9. 
2;V_>  «/.  Sec  Ad'inins,  11.  IIT),  MO. 
88       2\S.  See  .\ct  II,  Sc.  1,  1.  ('.7. 

S'.l       l.'7(l.   .V  rcfcrt'iicc,  no  doulit,  to  the  liifihiT  environment 
of  Stciic  III. 

'-71--277.  An  evident  reniini.<cene(>  from  Tlic  Trmpcst, 
ahvay.s  Shelley's  admiration.  See  .\et  I.Se.  _'.  11.  ;{S(')-M!t4. 
2S1.  "oozv."  A  favourite  word  with  Shelle\',a.s  "odoiins" 
also  in  1.  L'tll. 
00  'J'.IS.  •■thv.art."  TcrviT-e;  ill-natured.  "Silcmi.s."  A 
{iro|ihes\iii(r  dcmii:od,  crowned  wi;li  llower.s,  and  u.suailv 
repre.sented  a.s  ridin^^  on  an  a.s.s. 


Sri.NK    HI 

0,        31  }.   "Mirnad.s."   See  note  on  Thr  Smsitirr  Plant,  1.  31. 

!)1        320.    -Vote  the  L'reat  lieauty  of  the  fijiure  here. 

93  3Sl.  This  line  ke\-s  the  souT  of  the  Spirits.  Asia  and 
Pantlie:i  .are  now  to  d;  >cend  to  the  ultim.ate  Source  and 
Ciround  of  all  thiii'^'s,  to  leave  sen.sihle  Nature  and  confront 
the  Law  of  Xaturt^'s  hcinf;. 

SCKNE    IV 

91  •111.  Demotrorsron's  answers  lia\'e  (li(>  remoteness  and 
chaiiLrele-s  (ruth  of  their  speaker's  eliaraeter. 

■lir)-lL'l,  .\s  the  pas>;ii:e  ^tand>,  "which"  in  lir>e  -115 
.seems  to  ii;i\c  no  predicate.  Shellev,  liowe\er.  sur(>lv 
intended  "(ills"  jis  th'-  predicate.  Ilossetti  tll.akes  "when" 
(1.  11")!  "at,"  and  I'orman  smrirests  ''he.ar"  (1.  -llCii  for 
"or."  If  "lireathe"  were  .adopted  for  'in"  in  I.  410.  the 
oriirinal  imace  would  perhaps  he  most  apoareiit,  thoUi;li 
anv  of  these  chanues  would,  of  course,  s  .e  h.azardous. 

9",        I'JS    f'f.  Act    1,  11.  .111-.',13;    Act    III.  .^c.    1.  1     112. 

■13").  Note  the  rising  (nnotional  insistence  in  .\sia's  ri^po- 
titions.    She   i.s   face   to   face   with  the   most    obstinate  of 


\l 


NOTES 


245 


Its 


bo       4l(i-llS.  Tlifsc  lilies  adiiiinililv  .'\pn  ss  (he  IV<>iiict!ic;m 
cli:ii:icl(M-,    ~-  wi-ilniii,  :iiiil  iVi.'inl-Ini)  tor  liuiiijiiiil  v. 
■ItC.     It'll.    Cf.   I'rn,„,lhr,ls  /i,,,lllll,  11,   2  11     :-'7,. 
-lti_'    .',()■!     CI.   I'r.'n,./!.-' IIS  l.-nnnl,  II.  ■jr,',l-;;i  M  ) ;  .'ilJ-",:.,. 
4t;i    ••  Xcpnii!,!'."    The   ll.iiiifric  ilrii::  "1   tnrL'rMulnrss. 
Cf.    l'nc'.>    /Vif  l{<ir,u,  1.  S:5.    ■■.M.ilv."     .\   Tilled   l.lainmvell 
ri\-M'>  \i\  llerilles  In  -;ive  liilll  ll"lii  Circe',-,  p.iwcr.    >er  I  lie 
0(/V.s-.-:rV,     H(,nk    .\ .  11.  :5ll'J-:i(ir).     ••.\lll.ir;illth."     .\ll   lllKlL'.Il- 
(irv  fa.iele.s.s  lldwrr.    It   api)e;irs  ill  SpeiLMT  s  Fnrru  (}n,rnr, 
l<(,nlv    III,  Caiiti  t'),   stanza  4.'>;    ami   in    Millon  s   L;/>iitns, 
1.   \[<.i.  ami  l'<iniil,s,    l.uM,  I'.dok  111.  1.  :?-">M.  ^  . 

•t7  tS'.l  Cf  Mont  lU(nir.\.V.^s<j.  Ser  Inlroiluetion.  i>p.  in  ,  Im. 
(,S  ;\\-^Tvi:\.  Cf.  Act  1,  1.  111.  I'lehind  and  licviuid  Zeus, 
wiid  .+:.sclivlus,  stands  .\(C(-silv  lef.  J'rn„n  lln  us  Unund 
11  .")S:-!-,')S(i),  which  is  nltiin.ate  l.nrd  (if  all.  ,-liellrv,  witli 
modern  idealism,  m.aUes  Love  the  Lord  of  -XecesMty 
(1.  ')i:\).  'I'o  him,  Love  is  Hie  final  idea  ol  jiower,  destmy, 
an.l  C.odhood.    V\.  the  following  inteivMiii-  pa.^sai^es:  - 

"TheCo.lof  I'ower,  even  before  we  learn  i|mte  [lositivelv 
to  conceive  him  a.-  the  Cod  of  Love,  sometimes  apiieard 
to  us,  despite  his  all-real  Oneness,  us  soiueliow  re(iuiiiiii; 
another  and  hiiiher  if  much  dimmer  Cod  Levond  him, 
ei-her  to  explain  his  cxi.-teiiee  or  to  justifv  his  lirinu'.  1  Ins 
rontradieiorv  and  restle.ss  .search  for  a  Cod  U^vond  (.ucL 
this  lookin-i'  for  a  realitv  hi-her  still  than  our  lii,i:he~t 
alre.adv  defined  power,  appears  in  several  ca.ses,  m  our 
poet's  (Hrowninu'sl  work,  as  a  sort  of  inner  diseu.se,  .alioul 
the  verv  conception  of  the  Cod  of  I'ower,  and  as  the  liemii- 
riiiiff  of  the  newer  and  nobler  faith.  The  (iod  Levond  Cod 
is  in  the  end  what  fiets  defiiie(l  for  us  as  the  Coil  of  1-ove. 
.  The  Cod  lievoud  (iod  api)ears  in  Cdili.aii  s  theolo^'v, 
verv  exiilicitlv,  as' the  sometiiinj;  over  .'^etehos  that  mudo 
him  or  lie,  mavLe,  found  and  fought.'  'There  may  l.e  .some- 
thiiii;  (|iiiet  o'er  hi.s  head.'  .  .  .  In  far  notiler  form,  Ixion  riM^s 
from  Zeus  to  the  hit:her  law  and  life  beyond  hun.  ...  lie 
[Cuidol  falls  helpless  at  last,  and,  even  while  he  wrestles 
hcneatli  hell'.s  most  overwhelminj:;  mi<,dit,  still,  like  Ixion, 
like  Karshish,  and  like  David,  he  conceives  at  last  the 
C)ver-Cod,  afar  off,  bevond  the  ^'reat  gulf  tixed;  a-  tlii.s 
()ver-(iod,  mentioned  in  his  final  ery  for  help  aft  '  <lie 

powers,    -after    Craiid     Duke,     Poi)e,    Cardin.'.  ■       t, 

Maria,  (ioU,  -is  Pompilia.  .  .  .  l^iripides,  too.  u,  ins 
wav.  found  the  Over-Cod.  and  found  hun  in  fh.'  world  ol 
love!  bevond  n.ature,  and  vet  within  ni.an's  he.art."  - 
Joslah      l\o\ct.'.       1)1  uii  ii  I  ,ii/ -^      I  ,,' ,si.i      .j>     .     1  ,/ 

Soiieti/  J'aixrs.  ISSH- !,s:C}. 

"There  is  an  Kniitv.  a  Sould'.nl  it  v.  as  vt  unrecnuMU/eil 
it  is  in    iddilion  to  the  c\i-!elice  of  the  .-mil;    m  addl- 

l-'.'    .         : ;..!;:i    ■     :.^:.\    !::.^;;!ii!    !!;:•    \:\:-:!    of    t  !  !!■     dcltW  - 

I'coiicludi^  th.at    there  i.-  an  exi.stence,  a  .somel  hin;:  lu^lier 


M( 


240 


yoTEs 


VI 


pa(;i: 

than   soul  —  hiirli-r,  hcttcr,  and  innrf   perfect   tliaii   deitv 
l-.ariiestlv  1  pra\   ic  find  .      .  I  hi-.  Ili-1„.M  Sciil,  thi>  ^'reater 
!','■•'"    'i'l'V.    this    hetler  ,11    p.d,--  —  Kichaid    .letferies- 

J  h'    S/i,,  1/  nj  Ml/  Hunt. 

■•  W  h(  M  we  have  lirokeii  our  ;iod  of  traditio-        -id  ceased 
from  our  -od  of  rhetoric,  then  niav  ( lod  hre  the    „  art  uiih 
'"■•'  l"'»"enee  '•     -   Kalph  Waldo  lunerM.i,:    Th,   I >r,  r-S,,ul 
•  ■    „  •',•'1''    'I'l'i'-^'-t  Cdlerid-e's  lilwr  oj  tl„:  A  nn,  nt  Manner, 

•")hV    I'lie    Hour   of   a'upiier's   dethronement,    whose    car 

I  leUii. -orison   IKiU"  a--celld-.    ill.  ,").").•]- ."),")S  I. 

'""       '''^'.~.'  -' '"'  "  ■'"■"'  l'r<'metlirus'  restor.ation. 

r)G<;-.'.77.  Note  the  liLiht  and  confident  swiftness  of  I  heso 
cx'iuisile  Imes.  As  j  )einot:or>,'on  «oes  t,,  hani.-ii  Jnt.iler 
(Act  111  ,^c.  1),  Asi.a  ;,nd  I'anthea  ascend  to  witnesb  tho 
release  oi  I'ronietheiis  (Act  III,  Sc.  'A). 


sci:.\!:  V 


10;; 


om- 


1(»1  _  .'^S^.  ..ss.  Ihe  .^un-Cod  aw.aits  the  conclusion  of  (ho 
J<.urne\  .,t  Love,  Child  of  I.mht  (I.  (i:^l  1,  whose  own  hein.' 
ihuimnes  Ihe  cloud  alioul  the  car  (11.  .".SS-.")!*! "). 

102        r,<.)7   (IDS.    Ajihrodite  (\enus),  the  piddess  of  love,  was  ,so 
(•i-eate,!.     A.ia,   it>  i^reatest   Spirit-Kxenqilar,  al.sorl.s  into 
her  own  l.rm-  ,all  other  svmhols  and  dispensers  of  love. 
U.J        0_tJ.   Li.  lirouiiin.;'.-,  ('/u-i:;tni(is  i'.n  ,  v,  11.  2\i-l'y.  — 

"I'nr  ihc  Inviii;;  weriii  'viiliin  its  rloil 
Wcri"  (iiviiiiT  tli:ui  a  lnvclc.'..^  fr,,(l 
.\niiil  his  worl.is,  I  uill  ilaic  ti.  .-.;iv." 

_     (L'.Vt'ilS.   Ti,,.  \nw(.  (,f  I'roineliieus  anticipate  the  c 
m\i  of  A-i.-i. 

^  (mII.  hi  Hawthorne's  Marhl,  I'mm.  he  sp.^aks  (Book  IF 
chapirr  Mil  ot  the  Lack  of  fraiikiu  ss  in  Itahaneves:  •••V,tv 
stniiure,  indeed,  si-iior,'  she  re[)lied,  nieeklv,  without  turn- 
inu  awjiy  her  eyes  in  the  Ica.st,  hut  clicckiiiu'  liis  insiirht  of 
theiu  at  about  halt  an  inch  hclow  the  surface."  Shellev 
wrote  to  Peacock  of  wli.at,  on  the  contrarv,  .seemed  to  him 
"the  m.azy  depth  of  colour  hehiiid  colour  with  which  the 
intellectual  women  of  lOiu'land  and  (Jeimanv  entantjle  tho 
heart  m  soul-inspirini:  lal'vrinths." 
101  (ll!t  (;s7.  The  ,-onir  responds  to  the  sontr  nf  the  Voice 
of  rroiiieihcus,  Th,  re  jin-er  in  il  some  nolo  of  Ihe  Spen- 
seri.an  nMiH<'.  ( 'f .  Ti,,  r„rnr  (J}i,rnr,  Hook  II,  Canto  II'. 
Ct.  ha'  Mirul.ar  s\-niholic  sufr.trestions  —  t he  retraininir  of 
','"'.'■  -""■^'  •I'i'l  '•■''  livslmess"  — Wordsworth's  (hlr  (in 
hdn„„!„,„s,.j  in,un,rl„i;i;,.  Cf.  alsolleurv  Vaughan's  The 
hi  trial ,  11.  _'|    :;_':  "  '^ 

"I )  li"«   1  l.),;.  t,,  iiavi'l  lack, 
-An!  tri'.TH  .■iT.niii  fh:it  nnci.'iit  tr'irli! 


NOTES 


247 


I'.\(iK 

Tliat   I  iiiiv;ht  iincc  Minrc  ri'iicli  that  I'laiii 
Wliert,'  first  1  left  my  ^;loril■lls  train  ; 
From  whcMcc  ih'  riilii:litoiit'<l  spirit  scea 
Tlmt  sliailv  Cilv  nf  palm  trcr-^I 
liut  all!  my  soul  with  loo  mucli  stay 
Is  dnmk,  ami  stairncrs  in  the  way  :  — 
Some  mpii  a  forward  motion  love. 
Hut  I  hy  barkwanl  steps  wouM  move; 
Anil  wlipii  lliis  dust  falls  to  the  urn, 
Iij  that  slate  I  caioe.  reiurn." 

lOl        (')71.   "  FI;iriiiiiiii/int;."    Acco iiinl  dii  t lie  sconnd  syll;il)l('. 

lUa  ()N7.  Tilt'  ;iiitc('i'ik'lit  id'  'Nshicli"  is  "  sliapcs."  'I'lji' 
thought  is  thai  tlir  sli:i|ics  arc  mi  liliirlit  -  "  sciinrwiia  t 
lii^i'  tlici'"  ~  t  hat  iilic  riiiiKit  hear  tu  liidk  at  tlicni.  Ikinl 
yet,  once  seen,  tlieir   iieauty   deatrnys   the   Ijidmlder's   rest. 


ACT    III 

s('i;ni;  i 

lUf)  L'.').  "Icia'aii  riaiiyini'de."  Caiiyincdc  was  :i  iH'autiful 
I'iiryKiaii  ymith  wiio  was  r.arric(l  up  from  Mount  Ida  lo 
suci'e(>d   Hehc  as  cui)-Ii('ari'r  to  .lupiter. 

'H\.   "da'dah"    See  note  on  Mnnt  lilmir .  \.  SCi. 

■1(1.  "him."  Til!'  snhHer  Sahelhis.  ••  Xiniiidian  seps." 
Seps  is  thi'  name  of  a  speeii'S  of  deadlv  siTpeuts.  See 
Lucan's  I'linrsiilin.  \\,  for  the  aUu-ion. 

■i;?.  cf.  i)r\-deirs  /■/;,/,,■  .1//-.  .i//7/",v's  /'(•.;,'/■■'.  n.  r,.  c. 

107  (il.  Xdli'  the  wrath  .and  Ljrowini;  fear  indicated  1  iv 
Juiiitcr's  cli.atiire  of  address  .as  contrasted  witii  h  .")!,  in 
whii'h  ;inticip;iti\-e  thoiifili  as  vet  luidclinecl  dread  is  sug- 
gest'>d. 

C'  ()fl.  In  these  wor.N.  f(dlnwiii;r  the  elofpient  silcnc,.  of 
Jujiiier's  rccoL'nition  of  iiis  (hiom.  "  the  wheel  lias  come 
full  circle."  His  aiipca'  to  the  name  of  Prometheus  is  one 
of  the  most  impressi\e  dramatic  luoments  in  the  drama. 
The  I'>\il  that  opposed  and  oppn-sed  fherxidd  recotinizes 
cxplicitlv  the  s\ipcrior  power  of  its  victim,  .and  implores 
.succour  therefrom.    Cf.  .Act  I,  1.  .'?().'. 

lOS       72-71.  Cf.  The  Rrr„lt  of  I.-lnin,   Canto    1,     lanz.as  (1-14. 
SI.   .Vssoci.atc  Jupiter's  "e\'er.  for  ever"  with  the  same 
word.s  of  Prometheus,  .\ct  I,  11.  2.3,  'M,  (liiG. 


sriAi;   II 


109       04-100.  Cf.  Matthew  .\rnoid's    Salirah    mul    h'lislum, 
"cMtrlo." 


I 


2J8 


r\(ii; 


NOTES 


10',»       107.  '•  I'll  .(US."    .\  f.iitious  sea-pod.  f)ii   whom  \tptime 

l.cstowr,l   Il»'  -ifi   of  proiiln'.  V,  and  who  a.vsuiard   various 
and  iHT|iir\in,t;  shapes. 

.<('i:\K  III 
lift      i.T).  cf.  Act  II.  Sc.  -..  II.  (I--,,  (;;n. 

Ill  1  i:-!  >'/  Sh(llcv'>  l(  iiirini:  tor  I  hi^  crx  >l;dli/.ation  so  to 
speak  ol  liiirh  riiotiienl-  hiids  t'r('<|iHnt  cxpivs-ioii  in  l.olli 
Ills  hfc  ami  lii>  |jo(  irw  He  was  alwaw-  on  I  he  \rric>'  of  di.s- 
C'o\iTiii;j.-  a  jscr-onal  a-  well  as  a  social  iidm.  (  f.  I: /li psi/rhi- 
(itn)i,  11.  ."Hi  .")!)!  ;  and  t\f  hillowiiii:  pas>aL'c  from  jiowdiii'.s 
{-'/'•  ^"1-  I.  V-  1-7:  ••■\\c  must  .s|av  licrc,'  whisjK.rcd 
Shelley  'st'iv  for  cNcr.'  Tlii--  'for  e\rr'  I.ecame  after- 
wards a  jest  l.etween  tli<-  friends;  for  all  Sliellev's  nioxc- 
nienls,  sudden  and  erratic  as  the  starts  of  a  meteor  —  ono 
of  tho.se  that 

'Cappr 
On  hill-liip~  wliiMi  thr  iniidii  is  in  a  fit  '  — 

were  to  conduct  him  to  some  resting-place  where  he  should 
abide  '  for  e\ cr.'  " 

At  the  same  time,  we  can  hardl\-  aiiree  with  Mi>s  Scutlder 
tlia*  thi- i':i--;!'j:e  li.as  a  "  merely  pastoral  preltines.s,"  nor 
accept  iier  stricture  on  1.  loT  1).  cause  it  sei  rns  to  be  out 
of  harmony  with  the  theory  of  evohitiiii.  "  (  Mirs  h,  s  un- 
fhantred"  expresses  a  common  and  h.  re  jusilv  dramatic 
lomrinut  for  peace  and  rest  after  lorn:  spu-itual  toil  and  suf- 
term;:.    ( 'f.  II.  1  <»4-l'j()  as  comiiletin-' the  meaning:.     Cf  also 

III,  1,  r,()\-r,\-2. 

'i'^'   "J['"'^'''i  tears."    Stalactites  and  stalagmites. 
11-        17.),  17().   "  Ijma."     See    note    on    S(i)i(/    nf    Proserpine. 
Knna  was  a  Sicilian  town  in  the  "  Himer.i"  coutitry. 
]f)S.   "Proteus,"    See  note  on  Act   111    Sc.  2   1    1(J7 

113  L'On,  214.  t'f.  Act  II,  Sc.  1,  II.  l,^>(i-l.'-,l). 

211.  Cf.  .4    Midyio/D/ur  \i(/lif'.s  Dnnm    Act  II    Sc    1 
11.  172,  17;^:   The  Tempest,  Act  IV,  Sc.  1,  11.  44-47;'  Act  v' 
Sc.  1,  11.  102,  lo;?. 

114  246,  247.  See  note  on  Adonnis,  11.  :?4S-:^.f)l.  Cf,  flie 
ponnct  hesriruiina  "  Lift  not  tiie  painted  veil."  See  also 
Act  III,  .Sc.  4,  1.  4r)S. 

115  2S.-).  ("f.  The  Tempef^f.  Act  TV,  Sc.  1,  1.  1,S4;  Act  V,  Sc.  1 , 
1.  211;    .4  M l(hu»n>ier  XiiihT!^  Dream,  Act   II,  Sc.  2.'].2lt! 

2S7.  "Nysa."  Scene  of  I  he  worship  of  I'.;icchus,  who  was 
s-onietmies  called  XvsaMis.  "Ma'uad."  See  note  on  The 
Sensitive  Plant.  1.  lit. 
lie.  2'tS.  "  Pra\itel(\an."  Praxiteles  was  a  peculiarlv  skilful 
and  svmp.'itlietic  (ireek  sculptor  livim:  nearlv  .")()()  years 
before  Christ  ilawt  hdrne  h.as  se\cr:il  interesting  rcfer- 
elice.\  lo  ;;::;;   ;;•,    /  ;.,      :;.//,■*,'(    /  ihiri. 

305.   "the  m-l;'  ..f  lif,.."    ('f.  .\'l„>„n^.  \    ;U4. 


yoTEs 


249 


-CKNi:    IV 


PACK, 


1  la       .'U  I.   ■■  tlif  ilclicati'  s]iiiit 


This 


pin 


t  lias  lifcii  likiiicil 


to  (Idfthc's   iMiphorinii,   'II   tin"  second   part 


thoUL'li  of  course   it    lias  a   wider  iiieaiiiii 


.f    l-'iiiisl,   al- 
jxiet- 


Ihali    llie 


chilli  of  Faust  an 
the  (  rude  materia 
nalurt 


He!( 


i'iie  old,   half  ilu  i;J:anic  (lal: 


Hid 


I  earth,  is  replaced,  now  that  the  harinonv 
has  l>een  restored,  l>y  this  dairitv  and 


.piiit,  who,  chiliii>h  at  fir-^t,  f,'r<iws  into  >\Mtt^ 
leljiireiiee  aiitl  love  by   the  end  ot   Act    1\. 


ot  nia:i  ami  nai 

more  r.at imial 

maturity  of  init 
Vida  I  >.  Seiidder. 
117        :VJ7.    The   hile  of  thi'  dipsas  serpent   cau.M/d    uitolerablo 

thirst.    ,'>(■(•  l,uean'>  I'IkushUh  .  1  X  . 
lis        ;<tS-;?r.l.  Cr.  Uaml,!.  Act  111,    V.  1,  11.  70-. t). 

:]n\\     ••Well."     The   rather  aiirupt    u.-e  of   this  eollo.juia! 

expletive    inav    he    draruat  icallv    ,)ustilie<i    by    the    Spirit  .s 

(|uick,    irrepressible    liovishnes.,,    his    caj^ertiess    to    speak. 

I'f.  i.  :no. 
:ui:{.  ("f.  Act  ilI,Sc. :?.  li.  •-•()'.»-■_' id.  .     .>     ,    , 

;i7(»-:?S.">.  Vi.    from    lirowuiim's    I'lirnrrhus,    m    tlie    liUit 
long  utterance  of  I'aracelsu.-,  \hr  passage  beiiinniiii: 

•   hi  in.v  ciWM  lii;^r|   love  Ui'A  n-.l  1 ii  Mia.lr  ui,-o." 

110       riSl    :]S2.  ("f.   Coleridge's   Rimr  <-/  thr  Anrnnt   M<irimr, 
11    1  •_'.■)'- l-'ti;   -JliS-JliO;    •J7'-'~J1»1. 

101.  "darkliim"    Cr,  A'/m/ />'■/'■.  Ai't  I,  M'.   l,l.'-''t<. 
r_>0       -lis.  The   "on"   after  ••pasturing"   is   .supplied   at    1-or- 
man's  suggestion.  , 

4^JI).  ■•rhidi.aii."  I'hidias  is  the  most  famous  ot  tlie 
Greek  sculptors.  .  ,1.1 

4^_>7.   ••amphislKenic  snake.       OiU' k.aving  a  lie;id  ,at  ea(  h 

extreme.  ,  , 

r2\        4;V_'.   •■As    I    have    saiil"    is    a    .strangelv    eonmionplace 
nhra.se  for  so  sensitive  a  master  of  words  as  Shelley. 

4:U-")1-'  \  i)a.ssioiiatelv  beautiful  prophecv  ot  t  le 
triumph  of  l.ove  over  Kvil  in  mankind,  the  p..s.-,mg  of  the 
nicclumical  and  ivrannous  in  law,  relmioii  ;|iid  custom. 
C'f  for  the  iihilosophical  weakness  involved,  ihe  introduc- 
tion, p.  Ixvii.  Vet  ShcUev's  iK.etry  must  not  be  interpreted 
as  imioriiig  the  value  of  moral  ci'ort.  .    ,    ,,, 

IfJ.   ("f.  Act  I.  11.  r,n-.-,l:^;    Act  11.  >e.   t,  1.  4'.'S. 

l,')7-4(t(i    Shellev's  condemnation  of  sor  ,il  inMiieerilv  is 

a  feeling  one,  as  it  had  cau.se  to  be.    Wha'  -ueces.  ol  ..chrm  ■ 

or  man.euvre.  he  felt,  gained  at   th.>  expense  of  one  s  .selt- 

respcct  and  moral  integritv.  can  compare  with  an  iinstame. 

f.e'dom  of  sou!'.'    For  himself,  as  man  .-ukI  poet,  he  neheved 

that  honest  V  of  sp,-e<'h  aiul  deed  is  the  instinctive  attitud.- 

and   expression    of    the    liiuTa!    soul.     (  f.     lennysond    In 

Mrrmiridin,  Lvric  110.  11.  4-7. 
,.;.j         .._..      ..  ;.,  ..  .^.,.1  "  ;,_  il...  oas!   tense. 

r''3       -lltS    See  note" on  Act  111,  Sc.  3,  11.  240,  247. 
,-.01   -n-      cr    \.*  I    1     I'.iS. 


i; 


i  1 


250 


r\c;i: 


NOTES 
AC  I     IV 


\2A  "At  first  iic  completed  the  (iniin.i  in  three  aets  It  wa.s 
not  till  several  months  after,  \\  hen  at  Florence,  that  he 
conceived  that  a  fourth  act.  a  >ort  of  hymn  of  rcjoicin;; 
in  the  fullihneiit  of  the  pro])hccies  with  re^'ard  to  i'ronii" 
thelis,  (iiii,rht  tn  lie  added  to  coinjllete  the  composition." 
—  I'rom  .Mrs.  Shelley's  not,'. 

It  is  strange  thai  Sidney  I.aiiier.  a  critic  so  {rcnerallv 
y  diseerninjr,  sliouM  h.ive  written  as  tnllows  of  this  four'h 
aft:  .Vet  I\'  is  the  nici>t  ;ima/,inii  piece  of  sur|ilu-.i',"-<>  in 
iilerature;  t  he  catastrophe  ha  'leen  leached  loni,'  aL:(j  in  the 
third  act,  .Jove  i>  in  elerii:d  duress,  rninietheiis  li;i,  hfcn 
libenited  and  lia~  L'one  with  .\-i:i  .-md  I'anlhea  to  hi>ele'na'. 
paradi.se  a  I  Ml  ve  the  earth,  and  a  lili.al  radiant  picture  uf  t  he 
reawakening'  of  man  .and  n.-itiu'e  under  the  new  n'triine  h.a.s 
clo.sed  UJi  the  wlmle  with  the  etfeet  uf  a  t  nm-^furiiiat  ii  m- 
wcelie.  \et,  ujion  all  thi.>.  Shellev  drains  in  .\ct  I\',  which 
is  .simply  leaden  in  action  and  color  aloii^cside  of  .\ct  111, 
and  in  which  the  \dici-  of  unseen  s])irits,  the  chorus  of 
Hours,  lone.  I'aiithe.a.  Detnotroriron,  the  I]artli  ;ilid  the 
Moon  Jielt  each  other  with  endless  swee(i.sh  speeches  that 
y  rain  like  ineffi^ctiial  comlits  in  ,a  carnival  of  -illiness." — 
Till   Hm/lisli  XonI,  pp.  lo:',,  lot. 

William  Michael  Hossetli.  on  the  other  h.ind,  fin<!>  it 
'■difficult  to  -jieak  Jiiuhly  eiiouirh  of  ttie  fourth  act  .-o  far 
as  lyrical  I'erxour  .and  l.amlient  |)l;ivof  ini.airinat  ion  are  con- 
cerned, hoiii  of  them  sjirMi^int:  from  ethical  enthusiasm. 
It  is  the  comiiin.'ition  of  these  which  makes  this  act  the 
niost  >urprisin,ir  ,-tructun'of  lyrical  faculty,  sustained  at  an 
almost  imilorm  iiitch  throULdi  a  verv  consideralije  leiiizth 
of  verse,  th.at  1  know  of  in  anv  literature.  DneouLdit  [H>rhap.-f 
to  except  ('ertaiii  passaiies.  t.ikeii  coilectiveh-,  in  l)ante's 
Puriiilisii  " 

("crtainl\',  ii  l..amer's  criticism  were  to  -t.iiid.  it  would 
lu'coliie  iiece.-.-.iry  to  <-url:iil  >ome  of  ShakesjK'are's  |)lays 
and  Thackeray's  novels,  .a-  concludinL'  with  other  thci; 
structurallv  neces-.ary  passaires  'riiouirh  it  is  true  Ii;' 
the  e.s.-eutial  dr.am.atic  (irtimi  is  ended  with  the  third  .act 
(.f  I'riiDiitlii  us,  \v\  the  dr.am.a  itself  is  ineom])lete.  for  the 
movement  h.-i-  heen  directed  tow.ard  a  e.at  ;i-t  rophe  so 
.stUp('lid<Hi>  .■mil  re\dlutiollarv  th.it  the  reader  in-^t  inet  i\-clv 
feels         ,■,<  Slielle\-  felt  the  l\eed  of  another  act.   Iioth   to 

give  re.-dilv  in  celel.r.ant  mu-ic  to  the  citilr.al  ide.a  of  the 
cntirr  dr.'iMi.a,  .and  t.,  r,|i,.\,.  o\-ere!iari:iM|  emotions.  If 
Act  III  had  lieeii  .■illowcd  to  rem.-iiii  , I--  I  he  concluding  .act, 
the  linair  woulil  h.iM  I,,,. II  nhr  of  uuur.ali'fid  .and  .almost 
nneon\  ineihi:  al -rapt  m  -~.  and  ihc  a--tlietie  re-iill  on.'  of 
a    SHrnrisr'  a..nd,    ii.\'  ..(i  unreliev  ir!    .as    !o    !;;•    -dirso-,'    '-.oj-.f:;! 

The  ■silver  iininj;"  a)i|iaront  m  the  I'ominu  of  Kortinlirad 


NOTES 


251 


aftrr  tlif  cHta^ti'iiiilic  in  llnnilil.  Iiinlinir  :it  tin'  inlcnipl  inn 
of  the  trajiic  i'ii-i.  ami  iIm'  cwtllaiil  .strain-  >il'  Sliclics's 
final  act .  siTNc  aliKr  i>nr  prime  pui'posi',  --  In'  niakiiii;  of 
Ixilh  crralinii-  nmri'  alt  i-lii-illv  ctimUMc. 

I'aiitlu'a  atul  lone  here  serve  the  fuiielio!!  <if  an  iiiter- 
linkiuLT  ami  woinleriii'ilv  interpret  aii\c  ciinrns  lielwceii 
the  Spirit-soni^s  and  the  duet  of  Ivirth  and  Miion,  and 
;maiii  helween  tliese  and  the  fzreat  iiijiuietii>iis  of  |)eni()- 
^or^oi:. 
127  7:{-7().  lM)r  the  hu'iH-e  ef.  Aet  i,Sc.  1,1,  l.'.C;  Tin  ('<  nri. 
Act  I,  Sc.  •_',  1.  1  I;   .1, /.;/('//.-•,  I.  2(17;   U<uiil,l.  Act  111,  Se.  J, 

1.  'J.')!). 

1_',S        lit),   "da'dal."     See    note    ^n    M'Hit    lUnnr,    1.    N(i.     Cf. 

Aet  III,  Sc.  1,1.  •_'••.;    Aet   l\',  i.   IKi. 

l'_'l,  \H.   Ciuitra-t     ^//e.^•    WnttiH   iiiikinij    tlir    i'.iKiiun  nn 

Hills.  II.   \S;    (i»Mi'.). 
132       I'.iJ.   Cf.  ('haiieer'.s  I'mltiiiw    I"  H"    Cuntirbunj  'Talis,  II. 

•J(i7-J(,;S: 

••  lli.^  ('\('ii  twiiiklrd  in  lii-t  Iii'imI  :iri::ht. 
A.i  (jiMPfi  the  ^irrri-  in  the  frnsly  iik'lit." 

2()rv-2:5.").   With   tiii.-;  vi.-ion  of  tlie  .Moon  cf.    The  Cloud, 

11.  i.v.-.s. 

2i:>    ■■  Keirard."    .\re  reir.arded  ;i.s;  ajipear. 
21  1   217.  Cf.  '/■/'.   Cl":i'l.  11.  21    21. 

i;U  2(;()  2(;.'<.  Cf.  .•<hake>p  ^re'.s  Kiln/  Hmn/  \  .  .\et  11,  Se.  :{, 
1.  U>. 

2Sl,    "  waluele.ss."    ln\-.ilu,al  ile. 

l.'Jfl  ,'?in  .M/.  Thi,-  .-iiiriliial  cnniintr  together  of  I'artli  .Tnd 
.Moon  at  onei'  indie.iles  the  new  and  rapid  irrowi  h  of  eai'h 
under  the  l;i\v  of  lo\'e  and  .satisfies  *  he  i)redi('tion  .f  .A-i.i 
in  Act  111,  Sc.  t,  11.  ;i'.tl-.S'.tS.  Tin.  sjieaker.s  an-  surely  the 
Spirit  of  the  llarth  .and  tlie  Spirit  of  the  Moon.  This  is  th  • 
new  Marth  of  .\et  111,  Sc.  1,  the  fncd  ami  rcjuvctiati  il 
spirit  of  Scene  '.i,  not  the  old  Isarth  of  Act  I.  In  this  (in.al 
act  it  li.as  liecoine  "old  ciiotitch"  in  its  new  life  (cf.  Asia's 
words  in  Act  111.  Sc.  4,  1.  ;iW)  for  C()niplet(>  delii^ht  and 
triumph.  .K-theticallv.  tliis  is  a  \  aluaMe  studv  in  inler- 
cliantred  metiv-,  .and  the  student  should  carefullv  eNauiilie 
the  measures  , as  correspondinir  to  the  presences  .and  con- 
sciiMisnesses  of  llartli  and  .Moon.  Cf.  .Addison's  famous  ode, 
'/'/((  SpdctiiiiK  Firmnmrnt  on  High,  as  cxhihitiufr  ii  brief  mo- 
ment of  similar  spiritu.al  insiirlit. 

i;?S       370-12:^.   Literatiu-e    contains    no    hymn    of    humanity 
more  insnirin<r  tli.an  this. 
37S.  Cf.  1.  21.-.. 

139        100.  Cf.  Colerid.ffc's  Lnrr,  11.  1-4: 

"  .\ll  thoiii:lils.  .-il!  pa-Mi.ii-,  !ill  .li'li„'lits, 
U'li;iii>\-i>r  stirs  tliis  iiinrt.'il  fraiiic. 
All  arc  lull  tniiiistcrs  <if  I,<)Vt', 

.\l„l   f.'r.I   lil^  -a.lv,l   f1.-,ln,'." 


1 


2.')2 


'I 


}  j 


y<)H-:s 


I  11  IjM^    <"f.  Ilti„in  In  liihlhrfiinl  Jinmhi,  \\    nit,  CO. 

11-'         \,j\     ■•  M-  i];i;|."     Sr,.   ii,,|r  (,ii    •/•/,-    N, /,-,/,/•',    /'/<////,!.  ;U 
IJ  L   •■  Al:,i\c."    i  »,iiH^liirr  of  (',i(|iriii-.  I'liuirli  r  of  'I'lirlics. 
r..').    ■■  ( '■i(liri;i';ili."     Src   ikiIc  (in  Oi/r  /,,   /.ih.rfi/,    I.   ()_'. 
ll")         .■>.")!    ■  7.     |)rlM(>p)rLr(!ll'>    i:iv,it     llllrnmic    luliclif-.    [\,i-    lndt 
scrciiitv  !li;il   liiitli  crindilidii-.  and  i-  pnnliiccil  liv  (li-ciplinc 
fhrr-iiirh    IMI.    'I'lic  Miclcnl  will  (diiip.-irc  the  Shakcpcaiv 
(.1  ■/  'll    ■/'.'/'/-',-/ ,;nd  77      W'l.ilir'.s  /'./A  will,  (lie  Sli:,kr^|.,.aiv 
<il    ihiiiilil  and    l.inr.     I'  ill,   -nrrow  and  jov   arc   niiw   Iimi- 
|i.iv(i  and  cnnlrollcd  In  a  nin-ic  undc>|)airinir  and  iincxull- 
anl,  l.iil   -ironii  alul  callri  and  Lin<l.    Sliclirv'-  nun   lunirM 
liclicf  in  I  lie  manner  ol  Man'.-  rcilciniil  ion  i-  lirrc  r\i)rr->i  d 
1  17  The  World's  Wanderers. 

In   i-ornian'.-  opMiiLn  a  -tan/a  i-  w.mtin;;,  llir  hi.-t   wnr  1 
(if  wliich  -Imnld  rli\ni-  w  il  li  "  lijlinw." 
1  IS  Song  ("Rarely,  rarely  comest  thou"). 

'I'liouirli  tlii.s   j\ric  i>  iiMiallv  f,M-()U|ird  witli  tlic  pocni.-  rf 
IS'Jl,    fliiMc   cxi.-t-^   at    Har\ard   an   aiitdi^rapli    MS     dated 
"i'isi,  .May,  ISl'O." 
14!)        I'.t,    .\(itc   tlic    inctric.'d    mean,-   emphiycd    to   induce   the 
"  mei'r\'  mea.-Mri'." 

;{.S-i».   Sliellev   di.-liked   the  ordinarv  forms  and  conven- 
tions of  •■  .-.ocietw" 
l')*)         Is.   cr.  '•  W'lirt)  fhr  Iniup  is  sIkiIIi  1-1,1."  jl.  'Jl-l. 
l.'iO  Song  of  Proserpine. 

In  (Ireek  mvt holo.irv  I'er-ephone  (liomaii,  Proser[)ine) 
\v,i-  the  daMuiliter  of  Zeii,-  (.lupiteri  and  Demcter  (Ceres). 
^\dnle  ^rath.riML:  llower-  on  the  plains  of  i;,Mia.  in  Sicilv, 
with  .\rtemi-  and  .\lhri,;i,  -he  \va-  -ei/ed  li\-  i'juto,  uod' 
of  the  dead,  and  carried  off  to  lieeome  (^)iieen  of  Hades. 
She  \v,-i-  permit  led.  ho\ve\  er.  to  rel  urn  to  her  mot  iier  diirim^ 
a  portion  of  each  Vear.  anM  -vmltoh/es  \eLri't:ilile  life,  ller 
storv  i<  told  liv  ilesiod  and  <  )\id.  Cf.  SuinI  Mirne's  IJi/uni  In 
J'riKi  rpini'. 
1.")!  Autumn:  A  Dirge. 

1(1.  rf.  Dimr  jnr  ihr  y,,ir,  l.  lo. 

152  The  Question. 

I'he  sensuous   lie.autvof  this  po,  ,ii  susxut'sts  oonij)ariso!i 

with   F\cat-'s  (),Jr  In  n   Xii/lilinild/r. 

1-S.   Cf.  I'rnnh  Ihnis  I' nhniim' ,  ii,   t.   l-pj. 

!*.   "wind-flowers."    .\netnone-.    (IV.un   ficf  «os.  w  ind.") 

10.  ".\rcturi."  So-called  liecau-e  cver-l  iloomin.ir.  Tlio 
constellation  of  .\rctuiais  never  sets. 

9-.S2.  <"f.  the  famous  (iowcr-passafics  in  Spenser's  Fairir 
(Jmiiir,  I'.ook  in,  Canto  (>,  st.anx.a  4.");  Shakespeare's  .1 
Mi<l.-^iinir>ur.\i(ihrs  Dnvni.Xit  1 1,  Sc.  1,  II.  lM!) -'J.-iL';  Keats 's 
0,/c  In  II  Xii/lili/Hifilr.  stanza");  .Milton's  Laruhis,]].  142-l.'il; 
liacon's  I].-sa\-  ' '/  (,'nnli  IIS. 

i:?.   "that    tall   flower."     ProhaMy  the   tulip. 

21.  "Our  la!t>:ua,uc  ha.s  no  lino,"  suys  Palgravc,  "modu- 
lated with  more  .-ulitle    >veet!K>ss." 


NOTKS 


253 


r\(;r, 

l.'i'i       -7.  '  si'diic"   CoMrsi' Lrr.i--^  (ir  fla'^s  crdwiiiix  nil  I  he  !i:itiks 

(if  hikes  .■mil  li\ris.    CI.  .Milton'^  J./jcultis,  I.    lOl. 
I."i.;  Ilynin  of  Apollo. 

'I'lli-  :illil  till'  >llccriMlinL'  ll'lli'll  WiTr  illli'licli'il  fur  use  in 
a  (Irallia  of  W  illiam-' -.  A|iiilli)  and  l':in  .nr  rMiiiiii'linu  ln'- 
fon-  'rii!.ilu~  I'll'  a  pri/r  ill  liiu^lr,  A|"illii  wa--  tli.'  xiii  of 
Zi'U-  ami  Lctn.  iilld  \V;is  llir  l;i!(1  of  tlir  >lin.  (if  diviuul  ioil, 
lii.iii,-  ilM'.   Iiiu-ir.   |Hirliy,  ell',     t^Sfi'  II.  ^iOol.) 

1 .")  I  Hymn  of  Pan. 

Till'  iTdii  i'.iii  in  (licck  ni\  I  lidli'UN'  w.a--  a  -nii  cf  !!rrrni'S 
mill  ('alli>li.  Ill  (1  111  I  roll.,!  ill,-  III  Ids  and  wi^ikI-.  I  lie  llnck.s 
and  llic  licnU.  and  is  t  laiiil  ionalh'  ii'iin'-nili'il  ,i  li.i\iiii^ 
liorns  .and  ircal  -like  Icirs  .-ind  ii'i't .  lie  w.as  .a  iii.a-ti'r-inii-~ici,aii, 
till'  in\rnli>r  nf  "  I'.aii's  )ii|ii'-,"  nr  the  s|i(|ihi  ru  -  flu.,'. 
I''<ir  cinai'iist.aiici's  of  (■(iiii]iii'.ii  inn  mt  nnic  mi  Ih/mn  'f 
Apiillo.  Cf.  Mrs.  HrowninLi's  .1  Musicul  I ii-<lriiiiii  nt. 
1.").")  11.  '•'rmolu^."  Till'  ;;im1  of  .Mount  'riniiln>.  in  Lydia, 
f.atliiT  of  'I'ant.alns,  and  judLTi'  in  a  musical  cnnlcst  l)et\Vfi.'a 
i'ati  and  .Xpiilln. 

W,.   "  rcaii'iis."    (  ir,  .~-^:,li-iiilpria.  a  rixcr  in  .'^i'  i'v. 

11.  "  rriii|>('."  .\  \,ili'  ill  i'lii's-al\',  s  [lal'al  laj;  I  >|\-in|Mis 
from  '  >-^a. 

I.").  "  I'rlicn."  .\  niniiiit  lin  in  'rii''^-;il\-,  l:il>l"d  to  lia\i' 
iiccn  pik'il  on  ()~--,a,  aiiniini-  niouniain,  li\'  thr  ;iiaiils,  and 
(lircctcd  au'ain.^t  <  M\  ni]iii-. 

l(i.  "Silrlii."  Sal\l-^  and  follouia's  of  Hacclilis.  "  S\-l- 
v.aiis."  \\(Mul-<|)ii-its.  ■•  I'.Min-."  ( 'rcalurcs  of  Latin  myth- 
ology, rcsi'mliliiiu;  the  (in'ck  >at\Ts. 

2(».  ■■da'dai."    Sre  note  on  Man/  llhnic.  1.  SCi. 

HO.   ".Maaialus."     .\    mountain   in   .Vrcadia,   the  original 
.scat  of  Pan. 
l.jfi  Arethusa. 

.VrctliUsa  was  a  fountain  in  (irt\iiia,  nr.ar  ."^icilw  and 
AlpliiMis  .a  ri\i'i'  in  t!ic  .aiuaciit  I'rliipoiini'~u--.  ulinsc  cnursc 
was  at  times  .-ul  iter::iiie.an.  The  |e':ciid  iherelnre  arose 
that  .M])lie\is,  the  ii\ei--i;dd,  lieeanie  en.aiiinuied  of  t  lu- 
n\nii)ii  Arethusa.  while  .~he  liathed  ill  the  -ti'eani,  .and 
pill>ued  iier,  wiuaellpiill  she  Was  clialilled  |i\-  .Vtleini^,  or 
l>i,aii.i.  into  the  (  hi  \'i:i.an  founi.ain.  .Mplieii-  cuiit  iiiu-'d 
hi-  pui-uit  under  "carlli  and  ocean."  Cf.  .Milton's  Arcddrs, 
II.  _".i   :U:  — 

"    .   .  that  renowncil  Hiieil.   n  nfti'M  suiik, 

Divilir  .MpllCllS.  wile    li\    M'tTcl       llll-r. 

Stele  iiimIit  M'a>  to  luei';   lii-  .Xicl  Iiiim'." 

("f.  also  Milton's  L;/r}'las,  II.  .S.').  i;5'J;  and  Colcridsi'''^  Kiihla 
Khan:  — 

'•Wluri^  .\lp!i.  tlic  .'•arrcd  rivrr.  ran 
Tlireusrli  laviTii-^  Illl'aMl^•lr^s  to  man 
L'uwn  te  !.  Miiik'.->  M'a." 


f 


i  i 


4 


2r>4 

r\i;i: 


NOTES 


>'•       ■'    "  Arni('rr.iuiii;iii."      Acfr.ccniutii.i     w.is     tlif     ancient 

n:illli'  (i|    ,1   |i|'(>li|(>iil(i|  \    111    I  .pii  li~. 

'-'■   ■■  I  ^1 A  in:iiitliu^."      An     Aic.iili.iii     niiiunl.iin     in     the 


r('ln|)()tHlf-ll> 

•  in.    "  iin\  alllr 
1.   I7fi: 


Ill\.ilM.ll.lr.        Cf.       Milton's       l.>/ri,l,is. 


\'i''    'i'-n>  111.'  iiiir\i,ri--ivr  I \|.n--~ililfl  iiiilitiMi  -"iii;." 

Cf.  :iIm>    (hi,     li,    l.il„ii'i.  \.   'A;     /'n^/n, /l„u.^    CnhoiDul     IV, 

-Nl,;{7.s, 

'■'"^        "'•   '■  l^nna'.<."    ^rv  \u\\i'  isw  Smiii  aj  I'niMriii in 
l."..s  The  Cloud.  '        ' 

It  w:i^  iiatmai  tli.al  Shell, .x'-s  u'cniiis  .shoiiM  lake  drliirlit 
in  liiinirs  .■icniil.  Iiinl-,  h.'illoon-.  liiriitnintr,  .-lars,  winds, 
<loii,|<.  Tlic  .^\rnpatli\-  .s|i,,un  in  tlii^  taniiliar  l\ric  uitli 
'I"'  "  lii'in;,'  ami  I  iri'oinin'.' "  of  tlir  I'lou'l  tcslifirs  tollii- 
iw///. ■,/,,„■//  ,,f  lij,  n.ituic  \  i-ion,  to  hi-  kin-liip  witii  Hlakc 
ami  I'.row  liia^  r.it  her  tli.ui  uitlj  I'.iv  ant  or  even,  in  ^'cutral, 
WoriNwoi 

I''''        II.  I-'.    (  ,.  !'nii>„thni.<  [' i.l,„ini,l.  l\  .  l,Sl-l. 

Hi"         !■").   ('{.  I.itlrr  to  Mann  (,isl„,n,,  .  II.  (i!),  70:  — 

"...    will  ,1  from  llic  Tuiii-i  iiiiiMn  ruins 
■j'lii'  iiirii  .s|   NJn.u.'r  i.T  a,-  uliilf  (irc.  ' 

tr.  .V,,,  \i,ti  the  (lirirri'ticf  in  llioii'jjlit  l.ctwccn  tlic  cjond- 
(li-awn  |ii(iiirr  of  tlic  moon  and  tlii'  tiioitiil'.-  inclaiicliolv 
falicv.  Cf.  'I'd  Ihc  Mix, II  and  Till  W'liniiii;  M, 1,1)1.  anil  cf. 
iUso  .Sidney's  adinir.alile  .-oniirt.  "With  how  sad  steps,  () 
rnooM.  thou  eliinli'st  the  skies! 

')_'-- t.  Cf.  Coleri,l;;r's  "  stai-dopjred  Moon,"  Rimr  nj 
thr  .\i,(„i,l  M„rin,r,  I.  _•!•_',  ;in(l  Wordsworth's  .1  Mnhl- 
l>i,r,\  11.  11 -JO.  •' 

KH        M.   "cenotaph."    .\n   empty   tomli,   intended  as  ii  me- 
morial father  than  a^  a  j;ra\t'. 

ICil   To  a  Skylark. 

See  Introduction,  pp.  \iiii,  jviii,  .•itul  l\iv.  "Here  it  was 
fat  Cas.a  IJiccil,  near  liustliiiix  i,(i:horn,  tliat  Shellev  .and 
Mar\-.  wanderint:  on  a  heautilnl  sumtner  e\  eniniz  ■  'moiii;  I  he 
lane-,  whn-e  myrtle-hedpvs  were  thr  Imwers  ef  Ineflics,'  lu-ird 
the  e.arollilii,'  of  tin'  skvlark  wliieh  in-pired  t  hat '  sjiirit - 
wnifjed  .>nn<x  l<nnnn  to  ;  ii  lover- of  l\iiL:li-h  pi>eir\-  a  ,-on^ 
vilinitin^'  still  wiih-ncha  keen  and  puie  intensitv"^ 
Dowili.n^  l.r,, .  If.  :;:;i. 

.■s.  Seme  ciilic-  liave  held  th.al  the  si'inicololl  ;it  the  end 
of  thi-  line  should  he  placed  after  line  7.  This  would  lie  not 
(inlv  an  unnecess.arv  v.ariation  from  the  earlv  editions  hut 
an  iiidefeii-ililc  one.  the  ^'cnius  of  the  i-econd  staiiz.a  re- 
quirini:  a  <|uick,  exull.ant,  ascendiiiL'  inoveineiit .  The  stn-ss 
is  jiaipaiiiv  ujuin  line  N  rather  than  line  7,  .-inee,  ;is  I'ro- 
f(  oor  iiaynes  ))oints  out,  "in  llie  opi'ninc;  ver.se  of  the  jioem 
the  lark   ...  is  already  far  ui)  in  the  sky." 


V  '    ,V 


NOTES 


r\<:r 

lti_'       l.'i.   For  "  i!nlioiiii<l  "    I'rnf("^snr  CniiU  siihsfitiiffd  "cin- 

tidiiicd."  'I'lii  ■  cliaiiv'c  ^il-o  i.->  whollv  witlidiit  w.irraiit.  '1'Ik' 
laiK  i-  .1  "Idillic  -|)iiil."  ii  "s|)iitc,"  a  "  xmiiiht  of  lli.' 
■.'iiiiitul.  "  It  may  -ah  Iv  \h-  said  lliat  lod  many  ccirrupt 
pa-^airr-!  in  literature  liivc  U'co'iii'  sn  tlinniL'li  (-(litoriitl 
lilindncss  Jill  perviTsily  ratlur  tlu.a  tliroii^'ii  original 
cr'  ati\e  Ciircli     >Iiess. 

',V2.  Tlic  siK ceediii.T  stanzas  attempt  to  iUT^wer  the 
(luestidii.  ('!  \\f)rds\\()rlli's  'I'd  flu  />(iisi/  fscrond  [idem), 
staii/as  '_'-"). 

Id,'?  ().").  Amotii;  all  of  Siiclley's  ('(iiKjtu'sts  over  the  apalh\- 
and  heaviness  of  wdrds  tliere  is  none  niori'  triumphant 
than  this  felicitous  line 

l(')l  SO.  Cf.  'I'd  — —  (•■  When  passion's  trancf' is  overpjist  ") 
and  J.inis  ("  When  the  iam])  is  shattered  "). 

Sti  s(i.    Note  the  autoliiojrra|)hieal    valiK'  of   the  stanza, 

10.')        101  M/.   CI.  Toe's  l.snijil,  11    l.")-.")l 

K),')  Ode  to  Liberty. 

"  In  the  spring  of  the  vear  [IsjO],  moved  by  the  tiprisinp; 
of  the  Sjianiards,  he  had  written  his  Ode  to  LUxriji.  in 
which  the  trravi'  .Muse  of  Historv  is  summoned  to  utter 
oracles  of   hoiH'   for   the   cause   of   freedom." — Dowden's 

l.ijr,  11,  ;m:?. 

The  motto  is  taken  from  Childi  Ildmld'a  I'lUjnmaijr, 
Canto  IV,  stanza  OS. 

1.').   "a  voice."    Cf    Wordsworth's  soiniet,    EiigUmd  and 
Stritzrrbind,    ISDJ.     "the  same."     .\   we.ak  phrase,  ilaJMint; 
the  line      Tlie  "voice"  n'\ie\vs  the  riwe  of  Liberty  ! 
peals  for  her  fuller  welcome. 
L'.C)       IS.  "dadal."    See  note  on  Movt  lilnnr,  1.  S'".. 

l!t.  "island."  .\  favourite  imajre  and  ideii  with  Shelley. 
Cf.  II.  lOS.  '2W.    Cf.  Introduction,  p.  xliv. 

,31 .   "  then."    .\  weak  use. 

'AS.  "For  tho\i  wert  not."  .Vote  that  this  phrnsinc  is 
iterated  in  precisely  the  same  place  in  st.'inz.as  2  and  3. 
Contrast  I.  72. 

41.  "sister-pest."   Kcdesiastici.sm,  or  traditional  religion. 

Cf.  1.  s:l 

107       47.   "dividuous."    Dividinc 

■")1.  "unapprehensive."  rnalile  to  apprehend.  See  note 
on  Ardhiifa.  1.  00. 

()9-75.   Libert v  a  condition  of  art. 
lOS       71.   "that  hill."    The  Acropolis. 

S7-!t(>.   Cf,  Adomiis.  stjinzas  .Vi  ,and  Fv]. 

9'2,  "Cadmiean  Ma'tiad."  .\  Theban  worsliippor  of 
Bacclnis.  iMiripides  tnakes  tliem  nurses  of  young  wolves. 
See  note  on  Tfir  Smsitirr  Plant,  1.  .'?4. 

r*,!,       r  iiv  uearesi  ,'      Aiheiis, 

'.)S.  "Camillus."  Marcus  ImiHus  CanuHus  was  a  renowned 
Roman  hero,  who  relieved  his  people  when  lx\siep;ed  by 


np 


i»: 


H 


2'>Ci 


y\(.\: 


\(»Ti:s 


llir  (i:iiils.  "Atiliiis."  Or,  ItcpnliH,  a  Flntn.-in  rorivi-I,  wlm, 
rjipdircd  \<\-  the  C.irl  li.iL'iniati^  tiiid  scul  Id  ll.iiiic  lu  -nlicit 
[>t;i(i-,  :i(l\i>c(l  tlif  S  ii;ilc  to  coiit itiur  llic  \\:ir.  (Ml  liis 
rttiirii  to  C.irrli.mc  lie  was,  as  he  fxpiiird.  put  to  dcalli. 
!•'"'        Ii'-'f    ■■  l'..latiiiiis."    M,,,.  ..I  th,.  .srvcn  liilU  of  Kmnr. 

liMi    "  ll\  n  .iiii.iri."     livrcaiiia   \v;is   an   aiificiit    l'.r.--ian 
j(ro\  iiicf,  M.iiili  n|  the  llvtcatiiati  ((  aspL'in)  hvu. 

I  in  li:{.  Cf.  Milton's  Liiri,l„x,  II.  .•{«>-»;{. 

ill,  i  If).  Cf.  Milton's  l.nrtilns,  II.  rvl^T^. 

M>.   ".'^cild'v."     .\  Sc.ild   was  an   ;inciriit    .<(;iMdiM.i\  ian 
iiiiii-ln  I.     \iiiori;r  the  Celts  the  word  ciiii.'ds  •j);inl.' 

II'*    "  riir  ( laliicin  MTpriit."    Cliri>t  i.inil  v. 
l~l        171    I  7.{    .\  nfcn  IMC  to  ilic  I'ri'ncli  Kcv  dint  ion. 

1  7'>.   "  .An.irch.  "    N,i|Mi|riiii 

1M).  Cf.  (;r.iv\   llii    n,inl.  vt.ni/'.is  J  ;,ii,|  :\, 

isti.   ••  I'itiifcii.sa."     .\n    i>l,ind    in    Ilic    Hav    of    N'aplrs. 
"  rrl(irn>."    .\  .'<i(ili,in  licadlaMd. 
17'-'        I'.t-'.   'Twin-  of  a  sinjilc  dolinv."     I\iii:land  and  Sp.iin. 

I'"  "'III'  dim  West."  I'ossililv  .Vintrica;  po^-iliiv  tlic 
I',i-t.  iliniitrli  tills  Latter  interpret.atinn  would  li.irdlv'U-  in 
acciird  wii!i  .s;|i,||r\''s  ide.a  of  the  yonlli  of  [.iliert\-:  niore 
|)nil':iMv  the  ii|M>  liiluie  of  lnMn;init  \-,  .i-  the  \\(  st  is  the 
,  dav-old  snn's  ^lory  and  -ulaee.  •■  impn  -s  us."  Mrs.  .<heliev 
snfTirests  'as'  for  '  ns.' 

\'M\    "  .Vnninius."    .\n  eariv  ( icrnian   hero,  w  ho  defeaf  i d 
the  Itdinans. 

■_'()t     "thon."     It;i!v. 

LMJ.   C(.  I'mnnllii  us  I'tihinnul,  III,    t,   i:iit. 
17.1       "JJti   JIO.   Cf    Introduction,  pp.  \i\  and  \x 
17  J       IMS.  Cf.  1.  .-,.-.. 

•_'")4--_'r).'>.    Cndcrvtaiid    if  wealth  can  rend.* 

■-'.'is.   "  Koan  w;ive."    \\a\  e  (jf  d.iw  ii, 

'itlfi.  Cf.  Wordsworth's  Oih  to  l)ulii,  I.  '_'. 
17.")        27I-"JS,").   The  student   will  note  the  powerful  felicity  in 
general  of  .Shellev's  fin.ales.    See  Introduction,  [).  I\iv.  " 

•-">:!,    "LTeat    \(.iee."    Cf.    Milton's   f.'/ri,l„s,  1.    \:V2. 

17-')  The  Sensitive  Plani. 

In   this    lovelv   alleeorv   .'"^hellev   evprcs.scs   the   cardinal 
truth  of  idealism  and  rornant  icistii.  that 


II 


riio  <  inc  r('ni:iiii-i.  t!io  in.iiiy  ch.-iiiKo  and  pass  ; 
Heavpii's  iiiilit  f(ir  ever  .shine.''.  Earth's  slmilows  fly." 

Tlious:!!  the  i:-uirit  of  I.i^lit  ai)d  Love  .ia,  impotent  to 
prevent  the  apparent  mutcrial  dccav  ul"  all  things  U^autiful, 
ii--iii_?.otlint  iu  Xjie  world  of  ide.-i-  to  reil^'..ni  f(u- ever  from 
<Ieath  and  destruction.  Cf  Browninir's  .1?)/  Voqlrr,  11.  69  .^r/. 
riulv  "Mountcnsliell  (Mrs.  .M.ison),  wit'i  whom  the  Slielle\-s 


■W'Tf  •■•-rv 


r..: 11..    .1. 


"■'a.    V.'.i.s,   aCfwru- 


ing  to  Medwin,  "a  sunetidr  and  .icei.tnuHshed  woman,  and 
a  great  resource  to  Shelley,  who  read  with  Ikt  (ireek.    He 


NOTES 


Uf)? 


VM-.f. 


Inld  III.'  llKit  -lir  was  the  ^nlinv  of  tin-  ill-^pir.lf  Kltl  of  liH 
Siii.<,lii'  I'lniit.  an. I  llial  tlir  -niu'  nl  it  wa.->  laiti  ill  lirr 
trail!. •II,  as  iiiipt.ftiial  a  j.lacc  a^  cniilil  l.f  "<ll  iniairili.'il.' 
Il  will  iiiti-n  I  tlif  -.tu.lnil  alM.  to  imlr  t  lie  I'ollow  inii  i)as'^- 
atrc  Inmi  .1  I.ii<t  i.f  Slirllrv  to  l.fiirli  Hunt;  '•  William-- i-< 
oM.-  of  the  l.i-t  fallows  ill  Ilir  World;  aii'l  .lull--,  his  witf, 
a  most   (i.Ii-hlfiil  person,  who,  we  all  a>;nv,  is  the  i'\acl 

...iitilvi ''   ""'   '■"'^'    '    'l<'~^<'iil'''''   '"    '/''"    >'"'-''"■'    I'lo'it- 

thoii;;li  till-   iiiiist    liavf  Itch  ;i   fuirc  iinlininilxl  i  n./mlion. 
■A-i  it  was  written  a  vear  Ix't'orr  1  knew  Iht 

ITC,        !;<  .s-/.  ("f.  with  this  series  of  e\i|uiMt.'lv  wroucht  llower- 
pietures   Thr  (Jmstinn.   II.  ".>-:<-',  and  -ee  iiole  on  same. 
17    ••wind-flowers."    Sec  note  on  7//-   (Ji«  s/mn.  \.  \K 

177  :U  Ma'iiail.  A  hacrliante.  a  I'r.Mi/ied  I'em.ile  worshipper 
of  Hacchiis,  heariii}!  the  thvrMi>,  a  >h>:lit  stalT  erowiied  wit  i 
a  pine-cone.     Ct.  I'miintlniDi    L'lihounil,    II,  ii,  ^Hl,   111,    i, 

•_>S7;    IV,  17:5.  ,  ,   ,  ,.     , 

r,\.   "ii.>|>ho(lel."    Ill  <;re<k  iiivtholoK.v  a  pale  and  delicate 
llowt'r  fj;rowiii«  in  Hades  amoni:  the  dead. 

17s  7(1- 7;{.  The  last  line  of  this  staii/.a  i;.  nither  olisciiie. 
The  piussafie  mav  1 'c  thus  re-l)hra.sed  ;  •  The  SeiiMt  ive  Plant. 
Ulialile  to  reve.il  its  love,  like  the  other  llowers,  111  hlossoin.s 
of  heautv  ami  fragrance,  nevertheless  on  that  verv  account 
was  more  riclilv  dowered  than  ihev,  since  the  love  it  so 
stronjilv  felt  Init  could  nol  e\piv-s.  havmLi:  no  oiitl.'t 
(•■where  none  wanted  hut  it"),  -truck  mio  the  •'deep 
heart"  of  the  plant  itself  and  expend  m1  all  its  power  111 
trr.iciiiii  and  purifvin^'  that  heart.'  ••c()ul<l  lielont;  to  the 
tliver,"  i.e.  the  would-he  f^iver;  hcuce,  ideuUy,  ;i  giver 
indeed. 

17'.t       its.  Cf.  77/r  rVo,/*.',  11.   tl-fJ.  ,...    J    ,    o., 

ls>        177    •■  Haia'."    See  noti   on  Oilr  to  Uu-  H  '■•-•'  1'  '"^.  I;"-- 
\S\)    ("f.  .1   hiri/r  (•' l{ou;;h  wind,  that  iiioanest  loud.") 

IS?       'ilO-lMl.  ("f.  7'/i»    Ifimr  oj  thr  An'-i<nt  .U((r(««r,  11.  -i-'t)- 
■_>2;?.    Shelley  wa.s  verv  fond  of  Colerid-re's  ixietii. 

'J'J0-"J'21.  Cf.  Teiinvson's  /«  .U(m'»riV/m,  l-yrie    i'2,  II.  1>- 

1-. 
]Sl        ■'■{()    •':U     The  sense  will  he  ai)pareiit   if  •' >t  retche.l"   is 
ineiita'llv   related  to  ••hemlock,"   and   -.stillcl"   to  all  the 
liaiieful  weeds.  ,      ,  •  1 

•2:V_'-'247.  These  stanzas  show  ;i  marked  reaction  toward 
She'llev~s  interest  in  the  liorriMe  and  siiii-ter.  See  Iiitro- 
(liiclion.  pii.  xi  and  \iv.  Coleri^e,  in  revisin-j;  Thr  Ihmr  0/ 
thr  Annrnt  .Ufzc/m/-,  omitted,  after  the  liist  edition,  the  fol- 
lowing  stanza:    - 

"111^  li.iiios  wcrr  lil:irk  wiili  iiiaii.v  a  crai-k. 

Jet  black  ami  l)arf,  savo  when'  with  rust 
Of  tii.iiiMv  .lamp  an.l  rliarin'l  iTii>t 
■riii-v'f  lialrlu'.l  wilh  purpli'  and  urceu." 


258 


NOTES 


l:' 


*l 


I  A(;k 

Would  iidt  Thf  S(  nsi/irr  f'larit  liavr  Kiiincd  in  pf.ctic  pdwcr 
if  Shell. 'v  h:i(l,  siiiiilarlv,  iiiadt;  soriic  iiiodilicat  icii  licrc? 
Xotf  the  liiitT  ait,  .-huuii  in  the  iiiorc  aiistcri'  nictiircs  oi 
II.  L'()4-27!t.  ' 

IS")       _'.")().    "foriud."    AccurM-d. 
1S()       2S7.      urirf."    drip;    clutcli. 

Mp-'MY.i.  Cf.   .\iln,i„:'s.  !,  .Ul;    Swinliurnc's  sonnet,  (>n 
tl<<   Dinlli  (tj  l\(ih,  rt  /Irmrinn.' 
ISS  To  Night. 

<'f.  I.I  iii-r.'ll(, w's  I/i/tnn  to  tbr  \iijhi. 
IS'J  1'.).  Kd^ftti  uses  the  t'cnuiiiiii'  pronoun,  lustifvini:  the 
chanirc  i.v  ri'fiTi'nco  to  II.  K)  ^nd  II.  It  is  pVoli.-.l.].',  hon- 
cvcr,  that  in  ihi.s  iti-t.nicc  "  D.-iv"  and  ■■the  l»:i\-'  a[)i',r:dc(l 
to  ,s|i,.||ev's  iiuaLrin:ilion  prcei-rlv  as  t.ic  jrendcr  oi'  the 
oriLruial  pronouns  indicate-. 

ol,.Sa.   Cf.  Pro),!!  thus  I'lihouiid.  H,  1,  1.') 
ISO  Sonnet  to  Byron. 

Not  t( cluiicnllv  a  lr<iiliin;it<' .-onnrt .  The  student  should 
consult  anv  work  <ui  i)(>etics  --- sueh  a.s  ■' "uniinere's  Ihnul- 
honk  —  lor  a  di.sctksaion  of  the  canonical  .sonnet  forms,  tiee 
Introduction,  p.  Ixiv. 

For   remarks   concerning    the    relation's   of   IJvron    and 
•       b  lellcy,  see  Introduction,  i)p.   xx.w,  xxxvi,  xl,  "xivii  and 
xlviii. 

6.  "ri.so  as  f;Lst  ami  fair."  Hvron's  Cain,  Heaven  and 
tarth  and  The  Visian  of  Judgment  were  written  in  rapid 
succession,  aUiut  thi.s  time. 

IflO  To  Emilia  Viviani. 

Sec  Introdurtiun,  p.  xlix-.  for  an  account  of  this  l.cautiful  ■ 
ai.Ml    unf()rtunate    girl.     Vi.    al.so    Shelley's    Epipmjchidion, 
a  Idresscd  to  her. 

1!)1   To {'•  Music,  when  soft  voices  die  "). 

_  ;i.  "oilours."  Note  ShiHev'.-  fondness  for  this  word  as 
inducuig  .sen-uoiis  ajjpeal.  Cf.,  with  the  .stanza,  Shake- 
speare's Twrljlh  Xuilif.  .\ct  I,  Sc.  I,  II.  I-IC. 

192  To ("When  passion's  trance  is  overpast"). 

The  hauntiny;  nulaneholv  of  this  Ivric  finely  expresses 
the  poet'.s  sense  of  the  tnutal.ilitv  of  human  life  and  of  the 
mcomi)letene.s.s  of  human  love.  Cf.  Shelley's  remark  to 
(usiiorne;  "I  t\m\k  one  is  always  in  love  with  something 
or  other;  the  error  .  .  .  consi.sts  in  .seeking  in  a  mortal 
image  tlx'  hkenevs  of  wh;it  Ls,  perhap.s,  eternal."  Cf  also 
Mulnliihfj/  and  Lines  ("When  the  lamp  i.s  shattered") 

in Ct.  JUrons  /:7m/v  on  Thip-zn,  stanza  7,  and  his 
}  oulii  (tiia  .If/i ,  .^tanza  .") 

103  Mutability. 

Cf.  Koliert  Herrick's  To  Dnfjodih.  Spenser's  unfinished 
canto  to  .Mutiiliility  [The  Fmrir  'hurrn),  and  liacon'-s 
last  completed  I'ssav,  ()/  Viei,!<itude  oj  Things.  Cf.  also 
SheUey's  other  Mutabiiit>/. 


ih 


k: 


NOTES 


269 


101  Sonnet    -  Political  Greatness. 

SiT  iKitc  on  Siiiiiiit  to  Ill/run. 

rt    Shfllcv  liHii  .^liLilil  (■iitliusiasiii  for  historical  study  ii3 
such. 

S.   "ol)sccnc."    r<;lv    Cf.  /V-'.'^//!"7<s  r^')"!/w(/,  IV,  !•'). 
19.-)  A  Lament  ("O  World!   OLife!    OTime!") 

N.    iJo^si'tti    inserts    "  autumn "    after   "  summer, "    most 
impropcrlv,  as  rcLjards  lioth  music  and  content. 
1!)7  Adonnis. 

S  ':■  1  at  roilucl  inn,  pf).  \\v.  \ivi,  l\i,  Kiii,  a  :d  l\iv. 

The  niii.-t  nnt.ilile  p  ■rs-inal  ele^i.s  or  elegiac  [)oenis  in  our 
hui;:iiair"  mav  he  -.fated  as  follows:  — 


Urikiinwu  i  .\ii!;iii-^^M>ii 
Perio.l) 

Eilinii.iil  Spenser 

Joh.ii  MiltDii 

I'crcy  'i.v.x-.lu'  Shelley 

Alfreil  Teriiivsiin 

Multliew  .Vrnolil 

Kiibert  Browniiii!; 

Algernon  t^Iharles  Swin- 
burne 

Ralph  W.'ilili)  Emerson 

Walt  Whitman 


Title. 

The  W (tnderer 

Asfrnphct 

A  (lonni'< 

I II  Mimiiriiim 

I.a  Saisiaz 

.1  re  (itque  Vale 

ThriiuKbi 

When  Liliica  Laxt 

in  the  Diiori/arJ 

Bioomed 


In  .\ii'niory  of 

The  singer's  p.atron. 

Sir  I'liilii)  Si.laey 

I'.dwnnl  King 

,)niin  Keats 

Art'rir  Henry  HallaTj 

.Vrihur  liiiKli  ('loii«;h 

Mi.is  A.  Egerton-riaiith 

Charles  Baudelaire 
His  son 


Abraham  Lincoln 


The  more  canonical  and  literary  —  by  no  means  there- 
fore the  less  \it:d  —  amoufi  these  elejiies,  includini:  Adonais, 
show  the  influi<nce  of  the  'iiemorial  idvll.s  of  Theocritus, 
Hion  and  .Mosclius.  .Shelley,  more  particularly,  is  indehted 
to  Hion'>  Liniictit  for  Adnnis  auil  to  Moschus's  Lami  nt  for 
Bion.  Keats'^;  death,  tliouuh  the  circumstances  attending  it 
and  its  me.aninc;  for  him  and  for  humanity  are  treated  witli 
poetic  eneiiiy,  is  yet  made  l)Ut  the  occasion  of  a  penetratitiLC 
plance  into  the  problems  of  phj'sical  dee,i\-  .and  spiritual 
futurity.  While  .Milton's  eleiry  makes  its  cliief  burden 
clerical  insincerity  and  undutifulness,  corruiition  vrrxuft 
incorruption;  Tenn\'.son's,  the  diflicult  restoration  of  the 
indispens.able  mininnmi  of  faith;  and  Hrownin<;'s,  the 
intellectual  yeracity  of  the  idea  of  tlie  Soul;  Shelle,-, 
for  his  part,  wings  throuKli  ji.altiable  darkness  his  flamina; 
\yay  into  the  slo^y  sunrise  of  Internal  Lo\e  and  Beatify. 
His  own  opinions  of  the  poem  are  fjiyen  freely  in  such 
passac;es  as  these:  — 

"You  may  annoimce  for  pulilication  a  poem  enti;led 
Adnnnia.  It  is  a  lament  on  the  death  of  poor  Keats,  with 
some  interposed  stabs  on  the  assassins  of  his  peaei'  and  of 
his  fame."    {f.rffrr  fn  Olli.r.) 

"'  haye  receiyeil  the  heart-rendinj;  accotmt  of  the  clos- 


200 


NOTES 


Y 


'f  ' 


m^ 


'III 

M    f 


M 


1 


V^  \ 


191) 


iwr.K 

Mn,;;,;,!,      "    ""''^"'""'"     ^-"'''    l-^-   .>v.r,.,nv..n..l    .1,.. 

''.V  it  iV.  I  li.-nc  fini.shd  mv  I  Nl-v;   .•,!.<!  tliis  ,lav  I  ,viu\ 
'    '"  '!.'■  I>nssat  JVa.    Vnu.^lu.ll  l,..,vr  n  ,,  ,,v  .1,,.    ,.,  ,   . 

"^   I '."  ",  ,,  ,,,M;nM..jr  fin-  f<,r  l,is  ,1,  .t,„v,  n;   .  (I.twIm       o 
M.vlj.  ,s,;,hn;,n,lM,l.,nM."    (/.,//,.  AW,/,  w),,   , 

^l.-IKy   ...1(1,,.^   u.M.s  tl,,.  u:,iuv  -A,;,nai.s'   )„  in.lirat,. 

MS  hlrrarv  <'«^l  •  to  I'i.  ...    lMu..ivall  savs  tl,a(  it  is  M,,.    ;  's 

aSs.      ■■    ^^*'"'"'"  '  ^''^'  ^"="""'^  >•-"•'>■  '^"".....a/ion  fo? 

rtii(krc(i    l.>   Aiuiivu-    Laii^  tlius:      ••  l'„ison  can...    li  ,.n 

TulV/''   n"'   T"'"''.  Pi'ra^'rapli    of    ti.e    Proface   compare 
H\  ron  «  D,m  Juan,  Canto  XI,  stanza  60:  —  ' 

"  Tis  very  siraiisp  the  iiiiml,  that  firrv  particle 
ShouM  iet  itself  be  snutTVl  „ut  by  an  artiele." 

The  student  will  „<.to.  l,owevor,  tl.at  Keats  was  more  virile 
than    tl.os.    passap    indicate.     Cf,    l,is    own    state.nen 

1  raise  or  hla.ne  has  hnt  a  nion.er.tary  efTect  on  the  man 
^lose  love  of  heauty  .n  the  alistn.ct  makes  hin.  a  severe 
cnt.c  o,.  h.s  o^vn  works,    Mv  own  tlomestic  criticism  has 

or  the  Qinrtirb,  couhi  possibly  inflict ;  and  also  wlien  I  fee)  1 
fZr"l\'  ""^'^^•''■""'  praise  can  pive  r.,e  s„c|,  ,y  f;l(.was  mv 
oun  solitary  n.percei,ti.,n  and  ratificati.m  of  what  is  fine  " 
I  J/.  U.  the  opemnfrof  Hion's  Lnmnit  jnr  .\,h,nis  (I.an-'s 
ranslation):  "  A\  oe.  woe  for  Adonis,  he  l,ath  ,.eri<he,l  tl.e 
hoauteons  Adonis,  .lead  is  th..  heauteous  A.ion'is,  the  Loves 
jo.n  .n  the  lament.  Xo  more  in  thv  purple  lainient.  Cvpris 
do  thmi  sleep;    arise,  tho.i  wret<.|,ed  .me,  sahie-stol.-d    and 

l;:v:y'v:i.lrrtv'-'-vtoaii,.Heha,h,^^^ 

10.   "WluT.-   wert    thou?"    VI   MiUou,  I.,,rula.^    1    .'".O- 

^nlrit  .\Vl  ■^'"''"''■•"  '■  ""'''^  ^''^'  -''''^"  "^  As.ro!,on.v  or  ihe 
of  S  „  l"'"''^"'  ■"^f^T'l''^  Po.'trv.  Th,.  rranian  .\phrodite 
rf  Te  V  ^"7*";n7;'-^  ^".f'*'  [>Pria,.  Aphrodite  of  Hion. 
,r    ,;  ^^■'""  -^  ^"  -y^'noriam,  Lyric  37. 


L").  "on..."    An  Kcho. 


200 


IS. 

20. 


Ii... 
"Jle 


■A.lnnais. 
Milton. 


NOTES 


•201 


PA  OF, 

•JOU 


Urt.  '■  his  dear  sprite."    Vi.  Milton's  Cnmiix,  11.  .TS1-3S2:  — 

"III'  (li;it  li!i-i  liiilil  wiihiii  his  own  clc.'ir  lirr:i>t 


Miiy  <il  i'  il 


u*  cf  nt  re,  :t  n<i  *mv 


..\-  l.njrlit  .lay. 


■A<].   "I  lie    11 


.Mill 

pi  K  ■  I  .- 


Sliclirv    nml- 


Ilmi 


Daiiti 


mil 


,  III  Ins  l)i  ji  riri  I'l  fill /i  I/,  as  I  lie  tlnrc  frirat  ipic 
III  wiili'iiiiii;  the  {'ati'tiiii-v,  he  would  almn^-l  rrrlaiiilv 
iifix  I'  irivt'ii  Sliakopcarc  |i'aci'  ainniii:  t  he  priliii'  I  liri'r  pods. 
Ill  any  ciisc,  the  passa;;*'  .-^iiould  not  Im'  inlcrpri'tcil  loo  par- 
ticularly. 

■ID-li.  "  ra[»('rs"  anil  "smis"  aro,  of  coursi',  cnntrastoil. 
4,S-1<).  (  f.  Kcals's  Isdhilla.  or  Thr  Put  oj  Hii.sil. 
51.   "cxtrcine."   'riio  stress  falls  eciuully  on  each  syllable, 
ns  also  in  1.  (IS. 

201  T).").   "that  hijih  capital."    Home. 

().")-72.  Contrast  i*ith  this  ])i(ture  the  unreserve  of  ths 
'corni|)ti()n'  passage  in  The  .^mfilire  I'lnnt,  11.  2:52-247. 
and  see  note  tliereon. 

73.  '"'i'lie  (juiek  Dreams."  The  subtle  visions,  emotions, 
imajiininss,  of  the  poetic  ."onsciousnes.s.  Note  ti!ieir  ap- 
pearance in  Prinnithiiis  ('j)hoi(iirl. 

SO.  'their  swei't  pain."  The  s\v(>et  pain  they  cau.se, — 
'"sweet,"  because  of  the  joy  of  the  \isions;  "  pain,"  because 
their  l)eauty  is  not  capable  of  adequate  expression  in 
words.    Tile^•  are  born,  >'('t  not  born. 

202  S3.  "  inoonliirht  winirs."  .An  exquisite  touch.  For  similar 
associations,  cf.  Shakespeare's  .1  Midsuniuirr  Xiqht's 
Drmm,  Act  II,  Sc.  1,  11.  2!»,  loG-I^S;  Act  III,  Sc.  1,  11.  175- 
170. 

S4.  "is  not  dead."   Cf.  /..vaV/as,  1.  IGG. 

88.  "a  ruined  Pa raiii.se."   The  mind  of  Adonais. 

91-90.  ('f..from  Hion's  f.nmrnt  for  Adonix,  "He  reclines, 
the  delicate  Ailonis,  in  his  raiment  of  purple,  and  around 
him  tlie  I.o\-es  are  weepinL^  and  p:roaninK  aloud,  clipping 
their  locks  for  .\donis.  And  one  upon  his  shafts,  another 
on  his  bow  is  treading.  ;'"<1  ''ne  hath  loosed  the  sandal  of 
Adonis,  and  anottier  hath  broken  his  own  feathered  quiver, 
and  one  in  a  golden  vessel  bears  water,  and  another  laves 
the  wound,  and  another  from  behind  him  with  hi.s  winira 
is  fanninij;  .\donis."    (tr.  Laiisi.l 

104.  "witii  liirhtninir  and  with  music"  S^■mbolizin!I 
the  irresistible  enchantment,  the  sheer  impetus,  of  sure 
poetry.  Cf.  Ailonni.i  itself,  "the  'lanii>  tleath."  The  cold 
dews  of  death. 

105.  "its."   The  antecedent  is  "Splendour." 

107.  "clips."  Surrounds  or  embraces.  Anglo-Sa.xon, 
cb/jipan. 

203  IK)    "pomp."    Pr.icessicn. 

117.   Note  the  mcluneiiuly  charm  of  this  fine  figure. 


262 


i    I 


'  y  \A 


NOTES 


PAf; 


E 


201 


]2_1.   Of.  ThrChml,]].  Ifi-j,, 

"^ir^^S^^^^^^  whom   the 

'-■•rs  1..S  „amo  spr.-u,,.  from  his  M, ';;;"■    ^''^'  ""^^'''-  ^^'"^•'' 

to  reach  if.-      ^  •       '  '^'"'^^  '""'--^^''f '»  cliagrinnt  his 
"  Inrn  niirhtin"'.!,.  "  ff  t.'*   *  >    /-i  , 


faihirc 
iAr,. 
lU]. 


205 
200 


207 


r.n,nto;paHTSHr;iU!ai'of'u    '^^ '•'''Wc.'ranoo  has  no 

ten.hils  of  thi  a.  s":   on  •       f^rT  P'\'i^'*'>  • '^^'l  ^Ih'  cnrlod 
«Prinj;  in  another    -c'a      I  „     ^    '  "' '  *'"'''  ''^'^^  "^'""''  «"'! 

wo  sleep,  ,.,nc.  down  i    t  "sTlence     a  ri.t;'  '  '"  '"''V^^'  ^'••'••*'> 
an,i  unawak,.ninK  sleep  "    (tr    T  .''"^  ^  '^^  """^  ^'"dless, 

\JS-m'aT''  ^■-'^''♦-i;'i'-ilii,ie. 

1  Jlel;;;;:-,^;;i^;;'^;;;::5:' '^y  de:?r'/^"r'^' "-» ^^'-«. 
2j:t;;^'l^^H^^'^r-rs::n-i^-'>^^^^'- 

Apl.rocHtowilh   ulZLj-'Z"' t     r^r^^  "•  •   •  '"'t 

mr.^i;;!;is.^hap£s'A,^':;i''''',^'T  -'^^"^^^  "Abide  with 

for  a  lit.l..\vhiran(    ki     ■;-,;:''±-    '   •.     ^^ake,  Adonis, 

i;av^ki.n.e,,ntanJni;^;:;;t;CEr::^j-£ 

'"'•  "^'™'-tle3«/'   In  that  AdonaiH  has  her  heart. 


\'M  * 


!^M 


NOTES 


203 


rA^K 


i 


L'{)7       2'M.  Cf.  ]Vicin'.-i  f.nmrvt  for  Arl'ini.i: 


wliilo  wrt'toliod 


I   yet    live,   liciiii;  a  tioddcss,  and  mav   not   follow  tlici-!' 


(tr.  I. an-. 


.1^ 


/., 


■it  for  Atl, 


HI-  uli\- 


ovcrliold,  liid-t   tlioii  follow  tlic  cliavc,  and  lirin^;  so  fair, 
why    wcrt    Ilioti    fliiis   ovcrhardy    to    fiijlit    witli    lieasts?" 
((r.  I.atij;.) 
'2()S       2-1").   "oKsccnc."    Sco  note  on   Sonrift — Pi)litiriil  Crait- 
nrsfi,  !.  .V. 

LTO.   "I'vtliian."      liyron,     wlio     castiir;itc(l     his     carlv 
critics  in  HritjIifiJi  finrils  and  Srnfrh  Rcrinrrrs.    Tlu-  P\tliian 
.\pollo,  slayiT  of  the  Python,  is  referred  to. 
20!)       2(i_'-3ir).  The  pastoral  niourninj;  of  the  inoimfain-shep- 
iierds,  the  fellows  of  Adonais. 

•-*(M.  "The  rilirrim  of  Eternity. "  Hyron.  Cf.  Cliilde 
IIiir/>!(l's  Pih^riinuqr. 

2ns.   "lerne."    Ireland. 

2t'i!).  "  swcftrst  lvri--t ."  Thomas  Moor(\  These  references 
are  poetic,  not  [)articular. 

271-207.  Tliese  three  stanzas  contain  Shellev's  ]iortrait 
of  himself. 

274-270.  .Acta^on  was  a  hunter  who  chanced  to  see 
Artemis  and  lu>r  maidens  hathinir,  and  was  on  that  account 
chanped  into  a  stap  and  pursued  to  his  death  liy  his  own 
iioinids. 

27S-27().    Cf.  Tennyson's  Thr  PusKinq  of  Arthur  :  — 

"Ilis  own  tlicnij^ht  drovp  liiin  liko  .'i  frn.ml." 

210  297.  Cf.  Promrthn,^  r'niwuvd.  ^.  ■ir,r>-  TV,  7."^,  74;  Thr 
Crnri,  T,  2,  14;   Shakespeare's  llanilvt.  Act  III.  Sc.  2,  I.  2!\0. 

300.  A  reference  to  the  manv  troul)l(>s  of  Shelley's  short 
Iif(>.  Cf.  the  followinp  passage  from  a  letter  to  Ciodwin 
(Feb.  20  ISIO):  "Hut  he  [Turner!  is  ar>t  to  take  oireiice, 
and  1  am  too  trenerally  hat(>d  not  to  feel  that  the  smallest 
kindness  from  an  old  acq<iaintance  is  yalualile." 

'Ml-'.Wr^.  'i'he  reference  is  to  T^eiirh  Hunt,  friend  and 
loyer  of  Keats.    .\t  Hunt's  home  the  two  p-^ets  first  ind. 

211  ,310-324.  ' 'f.  til"  I'l'falory  jKissasre  from  Moschus.  Thi^re 
is  no  necessary  conflict  here  with  11.  11  and  103.  I'recise 
and  un\ar\inf:  consistency  in  fitrurativc  expression  does  iu)t 
enter  into  Shelley's  th(>Mr\'  I'f  art. 

310-3.33.   Tli(^  critic  scourged. 

3- 1  30().  An  iniaginatiye  adxcnturing  into  tiie  realm  of 
the  i;t(>rna!. 

340.   Cf.  1.  370.  and  note  thereon. 

212  313.   ]?eyert  to  11.  19  and  S4.    Cf.  J.yn(ln!>.  1.  100, 

344.  "thr"  dream  f>f  lifcv"  A  Tihras(>  ]ieculiarly  character- 
istic of  Shollev's  cenius  and  philosophy.  See  Introduction, 
pp.  Ix  and  Ixi.    Cf.  .4  Midsionmrr  Xiyht's  Drram,  Act  IV, 


2t;4 


NOTES 


PACK 


I 


il 


m 


S,..  1,  II.  nS-GO;   Art  V,  Sr.  1.  II.  L'OS-'inO;  nn.l  S^^^nl)urnp•s 

sonnet,  On  h'lihni  llniirrn'rhj  :  — 

Up  I'fM  D,,  ilrr.-iiii  w.irili  uakinu:   so  lip  s;ii,l, 

III'  u|]..  v|..|,|,|s  r„,w  <.ri  .li-at'i's  t  riiiMiplcil  stcpp, 
A\\.ik.  ;iim|  ,,,|t  ,,f  lif,.  «||,.r,.iri  «  (.  .-ii.i.p 

An. I  .Ir.Mrii  nf  wl,:,i   1„.  kiious  .■in.l  >,■<•-.,  l„.iiiir  .lp:i.i." 

?12       ,1ir..   '•pli;mt(.ins."    ("f    r.rv;iiifs  77/^/>/,;/,Y'.v/s,  11    ^-M 
•MS   .■{:.!.  ('{,  \\;,i,  \\  iiiiiiian's  rnisirci'iil  Fulhrimj:  — 

"  I'lMisivp  mihI  frilirri'  ir, 
'I'lip  \V(inl-i,  ^/i/'  (/,-;</.  I  wiite  ; 
For  livitir;  nrc  the  (ipail  ; 
(Il;ipl\-  tj,,.  ,,,ily  liviris;,  only  rr.-i!. 
Ami  I  the  aiiiJiiriiion  —  I  tiie  spertre.)  " 

rf   also   nr  S,vsitirr  Phnit.  11    'MW-'M:,  ■   I'rnnirthrv!,   fn- 
hnuml.  Ill,  ;},  -JJT-JIS.    J'lato  and  .K.divius  pr.  sint  sin.iiar 

.'^.vi.  ff.  11.  uvj-inr!. 

;!t')(i.   Cf.    I'.ion's   Linnrnf  for  Admiis:   "f'caso    f"\-t|i(Tfa 
froni   tliv  l.-inirntations.   to-dav   rcfr;iin   from   tiiv  (lir<--cs '"' 
(tr.  Lanp:.!  '  '  ' 

213  37()-:iS7.  (T.  witi,  tliis  lii-rli  [lantlit'iVfifdutlMir^f  kin.lrcd 
IiassMircs  in  -'xcral  of  tiicj^ivat  clcirio:  Li/ri,l„s,  II.  is;5-is.-,- 
hi  Mrworiiim,  Lyrics  4()  and  130;    TIn/rsis,  stanzas  IS-lo' 

rtc.  ■  ' 

214  ;^!.'"-'l  I.  Till-  caircr  welcome  of  .Vdon.iis  l.v  timse  of  lii.s 
spn-itu;d  kindred,  wjio,  like  liim,  were  cut  off  before  inatiir- 
itv. 

:W).  "riialterton."  Tlionias  Phatferton  (1752-70)  was 
a  yoiinir  romantic  iioe*  of  urcat  promise,  who  sh-w  iiiniself 
at  eiirhteen. 

■101.  "Sidnev."  .'^ir  Pliilip  Sidnev  (l.".l-l,^,Sf,)  w;i';  nn 
T-.h/.alietlian  writer  ,ind  st.atesman,  wlio  di<'d  in  tiie  l.attle 
of  Ziitplicn.  ajred  t Iiirtv-t wo. 

401.   "  I.iican."    Marcus  Adikcus  I.ncanus  f a.  n.  nO-rf)) 
n  Spani.ard   l.v  liirlli  .and  a  f^omati   liv  citizenship,  wrot(" 
thc_e[)ic   /'/(ar.vr//(Vr     ("ondenuicii    to   dr.ath    for   C(in'siHrins 
:i,<rainst  \ero,  he  took  In^  own  life  at  twenty-six. 

41.V1!!.").  The  coneltidiniT  ;i]M.strophe  is  jiddressed  hv 
the  poet  karirelv  to  hi^  own  heart,  as  atTccted  l.v  the  fact 
of  de;!th  and  t^fe  mv-terv  of  the  future. 

21.">  l;^S-4."0.  A  l.e.aufiful  picture  of  the  KnjrJish  l.urvinff- 
pl.ice  at  Home.    See  Introduction,  p.  l\i. 

^  HI.   •■one  keen  j.vramid."    In  menu.'-v  ,  f  (';,ii,s  (^..^tius. 

-10  t."l-4.")7.  Shellev'sthre(-vear-(.ld  son  William  was  l.tirice 
here.  /   .. 

I'ii)^4r.4.  This  strontr.  serene  passaire  unlr.cks  the  heart 
of  Sjiellev  as  luiet  and  thinker.    See  note  on  1.  'Mi. 
217       47S-4S6.  The  hope  and  aspiration  of  all  the  great  ro- 


NOTES 


2tio 


I'Atii; 

iii.iiitic    poet-    .'irc    ill    i1h"-c    liiifs, —  lUiilc,    \\  (ird-woi t li, 
Ci'lfriilj^c,  l-.iiirrxiii.  Krat^  liiiii-flt. 
■_M7        t'^'l    I'^l-   *'l-    W  "ril-.uiiM  ir>  (ii!(    "II    I iiiitiKitiniis  (ij  liii- 
niiirliilit'i,   sl;in/.a.>  o  aiul  '.t;    I'l'.   al-n    Miclif\'>   l,>-:iy,  (In 
I,  r„l,u<    Sf.it,  . 
•JIS  Lines  i"  When  the  lamp  is  shattered"). 

Ci,  'j;,  {•■  When  |)a>-.inir>  nance  i>  overpast  "). 

21!)       -■').  'I'lii'    I'o't    is    >Iill  aildre.-siiiir    Love,  wiio  >li(iul<l   not 

clioose  tor  lii>  cradle  a  weak  liuinaii  liearl. 
2J()  To  Jane       The  Invitation. 

This  and  tlie  I'lillou  iiiL'  two  poems  were  written  and 
aildre->sed  to  .lane  William-,  wife  oi  l.ienh  iiani  Ijiwaid 
i;iliker  William-.    S.e  introduction,  pp.  \lv  and  \l\iii 

Parts  of  this  and  the  .siicceedinii   poem   were  oriniiiallv 
l>ul)li>lied   liy    Mrs.   .Shelley   as  a   unit    of   poetry,  entitled 
'J'fii'  I'm   Fnnst  (tj  thr  Ciiscinc  tunr  I'isii. 
21\        2't  .vv/.    'T.  {".merson's  .1 /);-(7. 
222  To  Jane     -  The  Recollection. 

'J.  i'he  student  will  note  that  the  metre  of  the  intro- 
ductory section  is  modified  in  the  succ.'ediiif;  section-,  to 
fjive  unitv  of  movement  to  the  "  recollection"  proper.  Note 
also  tli(>  finelv  vagrant  ethct  of  the  alliterative  first  foot 
in  I.  !»,  .and  of  the  ciiaiiL'e  from  iamnus  to  trochee  in  "  forest." 
22:5  21.  ■•seriHMits  interlaced."  .siiellev,  and  Hrowniiii;  a.s 
stimul.ated  liv  .Shelley,  weic  im.auiiiat ivelv  much  intere-led 
in  -nakes.  ]5vroii,  indeed,  called  Shellev  "the  Sn.ake,"  on 
account  of  his  "liri^ht  e\'es,  slim  fiiiure,  and  noiseless 
movement-."  Cf.  Mn^lur,'  II.  22S,  ;VJ.").  t:5S;  Thr  l{ir»lt 
of  Isldiii.  ('anl<i  I,  -tanz.as  s  IVA;  To  !■'.<! inin!  WiUiniiix, 
stanza  1;  .\'ln,iair<.  1.  I'.tT:  Mvnt  lilmn-.  I.  lOl  :  (>i!r  to 
Lihiiii/.  II  11!t,  210;  soiii:  of  Heatri<'e  in  The  Citiri;  I'ro- 
i,i,tlnus  CiboiuHl,  1,  (i;«;  II.  4.  102;  III,  2,  72;  111,  ■!. 
•127;   IV,  ;5().'),  .')()7;   The  Asfsnssins,  chapter  iv. 

:Vi.  Note  the  realistic  effect  of  tlie  conjunction  of  the 
iamhus,  "sv  wood"  with  tlie  trochee,  '  jx'cker." 

12.  The  Trelawny   MS.    lias   "white."     "Wide"   is   pre-     4 
feraMe    as    deepcninj:    fh(>  antithesis    l)etw(>en    the  remote 
(ii-tance  and  "the  .soft  flower  Keneatli  our  feet." 
221       .').')  .^'/.  CI'    7'/;.'  f7o,/f/,  11.  .")(1-,')N. 
22.")  With  a  Guitar,  to  Jane. 

Trelawiiv  thus  describes  liis  discoverv  of  Shellev  in  the 
pine  forest,  wliere  he  sat  composinu  the  ])re.sent  poem: 
"The  strong  liirht  Mrea!ned  throuirli  the  openinj:  of  the 
trees.  One  of  the  pini's,  imderniined  liv  the  water,  h.ad 
fallen  into  it  I'nder  it-  lee,  and  nearlv  hidden,  sat  the 
Poet,  jra/.iiu:  on  the  d.ark  mirror  hetieatli,  so  lost  in  lis 
bardi-h  reverie  that  he  did  not  hear  mv  appro.ach.  Theie 
the  trees  were  .-tunted  and  bent,  and  th.-ir  crowns  were 
.shorn  like  friars  bv  the  se.a  bree/es,  exceptini:  a  clu-ter 
of   three,   uiiiler   which   Shellevs   traps   were   lvin;r;    tlie.se 


266 


pAoi; 


yoTES 


i 


ovcrtuppcd  tin-  rr^.  To  avdiil  startling'  the  I'o.t  out  < 
lii>  tliiaiii,  1  »|iiatt((l  liiul.i-  Ihr  liil'ty  tivcs.  aiul  (i|itiii  d  li 
iuMiks.  (  liic  \\a-  a  voliinir  <.!'  Iii>  favniirilc  (irtcL  (Iraliiati- 
SdphiK  lr>  .  .  .  .-iiul  llic  (j:  lirr  \\a~  a  \nlunic  111  Sliakr-|"':iii 
1  llic'ii  liailcil  lini.  anil,  turning  lii.>  ImmiI.  liu  aliNUrrr 
faintly: 

"  '  IIipIIo,  ((iiiic  in.' 

"'Is  this  vdiir  .--I  iiilv?'  I  asked. 

"'\i>,'  III-  an-wrri'd,  'and  tlicse  trees  are  inv  Ixioks- 
(liey  tell  no  lies.  Vciii  are  sittini;  (Hi  tlie  stiml  (if  inspji-at  ion 
lie  exelainiecl.  .  .  .  ■|.i>ten  to  (lie  soieinil  niU-ie  ill  tl 
liille-lops  don't  voil  hear  tlie  Iliolirnt'ul  IliUlliiui  ini^s  ( 
1  lie  sea  . 

■■Jane,  with  her  ,i;rai'e,  and  suavity,  and  iilaiid  inolioii 
and  Mioihiiit:  words,  was  ccneeived  liy  him  ;us  t  he  dispeii-i 
of   .ail   e\i|ili--ile   felieiu.  to  which    her   husli.alid    had   :i    til 

cl.ailn,   ImiI    tl \(ll|o\\    ot    which   llii;,dit    lie  Shelle\ '■-  o\M 

Ilow  could  he  ad((|U:ilel\  express  hi-,  pleasure  ill  her^'clllli 
liess,  her  pehet  r.it  iliir  eharitv,  her  ilieflahle  telidernes,- 
She  should  he  the  (^)ueeii  of  .\iuitv  and  halc\'oii  hour 
with  IMward  W  illiani-  for  a  fortunate  I'rinee  Consort,  ai 
|i.'  -l|(Hild  he  her  hunihle  t  rouhai.loiir ;  or  call  the  pa 
I'eidinand  and  .Miranda,  with  .'^hellev  for  their  f.aithf 
.\riel.  "         i  )owdeli's  /.//>  ,11,171. 

See  Introduction,  p,  \ii,  lor  a  coiniiarison  of  .■-<hellev  wii 
.\riel,  the  -|irite  of  Sh,akesl>eare's  7'(  iiijn  st.  See  also  note  < 
<><lr  In  III,     \\',.-<l    W'nill. 

I'2S  '.M).  {''or  '■l''rii'nd"  several  editions  have  ",Iane."  '11 
former  word  is  not  inconj^ruous  with  the  Ariel-.Mirani 
faurv. 


! 
1 1 


ni 


I'dlt     (lilt     ot 
I  i>|>i'llr(l  \i'\-i 
^  (ll^iln;il  l-t  , 
'li;iki~|"':ilr 
iL'    ;iliN\\t'riii 


ilV  Ixiol^s  — 
ilis|)ii:il  idii,' 
iii>ic  ill  till- 
riiiiiiini;>  nf 

11(1  nil  >i  idiis, 
lie  (li>|)t'ii-<('r 
li;i(l  a  lli^t 
icIIi'N'-'  ii\\  II. 
[I  luT  ^'('lltlc- 
t(ll(l(TIICSS  ? 

cvdii  lii'iir^, 
'mixirt ,  :iiiil 
all  the  pair 
heir    failiiful 

Slicllcv  with 
al><i  iKitc  (iiv 


•lane."     ■I'lio 
rill-Miraiida 


